Red Moscow

  Chapter 2140

  "General Batov," Sokov was a little surprised when he heard Batov say this. The opponent had been stationed in the defense zone for so long, yet he didn't even know that someone had threatened the local residents so that they didn't dare to contact the Soviet army. After organizing the vocabulary in his mind, he said: "You can't recruit people because someone once threatened the local residents and told them not to cooperate with us, and these residents were retaliated, so naturally they dare not help Our army."

Regarding Sokov's statement, Batov was dubious: "General Sokov, if someone really threatened the local residents and asked them not to cooperate with us, why would you help the local residents you work? How many?"

Seeing that Batov expressed doubts about his statement, Sokov told the story of Vojisich Smazoski and his son again, and finally said: "The best way to destroy the enemy's conspiracy is to find It’s a good breakthrough. As long as someone is willing to work for you, others will slowly join in, and over time, there will be enough local residents working for you.”

   Sokov and Batov chatted for a long time. Just as he hung up the phone, a new call came in. The caller this time was Rokossovsky. He heard Sokov's voice and asked in a complaining tone: "Misha, who are you talking to? Your phone has been disconnected."

"I'm really sorry, Comrade Marshal, I didn't know you would call." Sokov quickly explained to Rokossovsky: "I was just talking to General Batov, and he asked me why he didn't have a local Residents were willing to help them build fortifications, and then I explained it to him."

"Well, the construction of fortifications by various troops is our current priority." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "In this way, the Germans will have an illusion that our troops will be stationed here for a long time. , but do not know that we are actively preparing for the attack.

  The terrain we are going to fight in is very distinctive. Its right half—from Augustow to Lomza is a forest and lake area, which is very unfavorable for troops to move. What is passable is the left half of the front army's section, but even moving forward here is not easy. It is full of fortifications built by the enemy for many years, and we must overcome the enemy's multiple defensive areas. "

   While listening to Rokossovsky's narration, Sokov began to think about the purpose of the other party's remarks. After finally waiting for the other party to finish speaking, he said, "Comrade Marshal, if I'm not mistaken, you plan to attack the enemy from the left flank of the front army, right?"

   "That's right, that's what I mean."

  Although Sokov knew the specific time when the East Prussian Campaign was launched, he still deliberately asked: "Comrade Marshal, when will our offensive campaign be launched?"

"Don't worry, Misha." Rokossovsky said, "The troops of the Front Army have just been deployed, and the troops are not only unfamiliar with the environment, but also unfamiliar with each other, which will be very unfavorable for future cooperative operations. Anyway, we are going to stay in the current area for a while. You have to use this time to send people to conduct reconnaissance on the enemy's defense line. At the same time, you have to go to the nearby troops to build a good relationship with them and have a good understanding of your next battle. , is very beneficial."

   Rokossovsky's words made Sokov a little confused. Isn't it normal to send out scouts to reconnaissance the enemy's defense area after entering a new combat area? Why did Rokossovsky specifically tell himself, is he planning to let his troops take the main attack?

   Also, he asked himself to go to the neighboring troops to get acquainted with the commanders of the other side. Why? You know, even if you and the commanders of the neighboring troops are not familiar with each other, when there is a situation on the battlefield that requires mutual cooperation, will the other party refuse to save them?

  With a series of questions, Sokov put down the phone, sat at the table, lit a cigarette, and silently thought about the purpose of Rokossovsky calling himself.

  Pornegelin came over and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, what did the Marshal say on the phone?"

Sokov stubbed out the cigarette butt, repeated what Rokossovsky had just said to Ponedelin, and finally asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, why do you think the Marshal said this to me inexplicably?" if?"

Ponegelin thought for a while, then smiled and said, "Comrade Commander, I think the higher-ups may put more burden on you, and that's why you have a good relationship with the commanders of the neighboring troops. Only in this way, when you serve as a more Only when they are in high positions can they be commanded and moved."

   "How is this possible." Sokov smiled wryly and shook his head and said, "I am the commander of the group army and where can I go if I am promoted? You can't let me be the commander of the front army, right?"

"Maybe there is such a possibility." Ponejielin said: "I heard a rumor some time ago that when the Supreme Command transferred you to the First Belarusian Front Army, there was a dispute. The commander of the third front army, but was denied, saying that you are too young and have too little qualifications, and I am afraid that you will not be able to deter those veteran commanders."

Sokov is skeptical of Ponegerin's statement. In the war, there is a precedent for the promotion of outstanding generals. However, many of these commanders who were forcibly promoted to the position of commander of the front army were limited in ability. , He was dismissed from his post not long after he became a member. As far as Sokov knows, there are Lieutenant General Hozin, who served as the commander of the Leningrad Front, and Lieutenant General Gordov, the commander of the Stalingrad Front.

  Thinking of this, he shook his head and said to Ponegelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, even if the superior appoints me to be the commander of some front army, I think I will refuse."

Seeing the surprised expression on Pornegerin's face, he deliberately added: "I know what my abilities are. As the commander of a group army, I am already a little bit powerless. As the commander of the upper front army, I think I'm afraid It is difficult to satisfy my superiors. It is better to be simply inappropriate than to be dismissed after two or three months."

Hearing what Sokov said, Ponegerin couldn't help laughing: "Comrade Commander, this is really interesting. Everyone else is eager to take up a higher position, but you are the only one who feels that you are not capable enough. And the thought of refusing such an appointment. I don't think anyone but you would ever think of it."

   "As far as I know, someone has voluntarily resigned as the commander of the front army."

  Pornegelin raised his eyebrows, and then asked back, "Who is it?"

"General Fejuninsky." Sokov said: "I heard that at the beginning of the war, due to the critical situation in Leningrad, Marshal Zhukov was appointed as the commander of the Leningrad Front Army. At that time he went to Leningrad At that time, he brought two deputies—Lieutenant General Hozin and Major General Fejuninsky.

  When the situation in Leningrad stabilized and he was transferred back to Moscow, he suggested to the Supreme Command that Fejuninsky should replace him. However, Fejuninsky felt that he was not capable enough. Less than a month after taking office, he took the initiative to apply to the Supreme Commander. Hozin was appointed as the commander of the front army, and he went to the periphery to command an army group. "

   "Oh, this is the first time I've heard of it."

Sokov didn't want to study the reasons for what Rokossovsky said, but called Sidolin and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, notify the Director of Reconnaissance and the Director of Intelligence, and send the most powerful reconnaissance team to go deep into the To carry out reconnaissance in the enemy's defense zone, we must find a way to find out the disposition of the enemy's troops, because we will launch an attack there one day in the near future. The more we know about the enemy's defensive positions, the more we will use in battle. The casualties you pay will be smaller. Do you understand?"

   "Understood, Comrade Commander." Sidolin replied, "I will convey your thoughts to the two directors."

"Comrade Commander, there is something I want to talk to you about." When Sidolin called, Ponedelin said to Sokov: "After a long period of fighting in our troops, the reduction of troops Very serious. The replenishment from the superiors came very slowly and was very small, and it was not enough to make up for the soldiers we lost in the battle."

"Yes, it is indeed a pity." Sokov said with regret: "In Poland, the German army did not build many prisoner-of-war camps, so we will supplement the lack of troops by rescuing captured comrades. Very unrealistic."

   "Then what should we do?" Pornejelin said in great difficulty: "This is not our country, and there is no way to recruit new soldiers to replenish our troops."

"I think the only way is to rely on the soldiers who have recovered from the hospital to supplement the troops." Sukov said: "In addition, I will report the difficulties we are facing to Comrade Marshal at the right time." Tell us to see if he can add a certain number of soldiers to us."

Ponegerin knew very well that the reason why Sokov said it was the right time to make a request to Rokossovsky instead of now was entirely because the troops under the entire Second Front Army had the problem of insufficient soldiers. . Then he nodded and said, "I will call the director of the field hospital and ask him to arrange for those wounded who are not too seriously injured to be discharged as soon as possible."

  In the past, Sokov would never have agreed to let the wounded be discharged from the hospital early, because the wounded had not fully healed and went to the battlefield to fight. If any sequelae were left, it would be a lifetime event. But now his own soldiers are scarce and cannot be replenished in time, so he can only pin his last hope of replenishing soldiers on those wounded who can recover and be discharged as soon as possible.

When Sokov and Ponedelin were troubled by the lack of troops, Rokossovsky and his chief of staff Bogolyubov, who were staying at the headquarters, were also troubled by the same thing .

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov told Rokossovsky, "our troops are seriously understaffed. Only the 2nd Shock Army and the 5th Tank Army, which were transferred from the reserve at the headquarters, were nearly full. Recently The commanders of those armies kept calling me, hoping that we could add some troops to them."

"I won't cast beans into soldiers. Where can I replenish them with soldiers?" Rokossovsky said helplessly: "Next time they call, you can tell them that you need to send troops from the Army Group Hospital and the medical staff." They will be supplemented by officers and soldiers returning from injuries in the health battalion.”

   "What about the field hospital of the front army?" Bogolyubov continued to ask: "Which unit should we replenish these wounded soldiers?"

  Rokossovsky thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think there is a need to make rigid regulations on this matter. It depends on which group army moves quickly, and whoever can **** these wounded soldiers will be counted."

   After Bogolyubov came out of Rokossovsky's office, he immediately found a phone and called the 48th Army Command directly. Hearing someone speak, he said bluntly: "I am General Bogolyubov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, please speak to General Ponedelin for me."

   Soon, Ponedelin's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, dear Alexander Nikolayevich, I don't know if you are calling me. What's the matter?"

Ponedelin and Bogolyubov knew each other long before the war, and the two sides had a good personal relationship. At this moment, Bogolyubov called to convey what Rokossovsky said to Ponedelin: " I heard that your army is facing a shortage of soldiers?"

"Yes, Alexander Nikolaevich!" Ponedelin felt that the other party would not ask about this matter for no reason, so he asked tentatively: "What are you asking about this matter? Shall we replenish our troops?"

   "Damn, I don't have a reserve team in my hand. Where can I replenish you with soldiers." Bogolyubov said in a low voice, "But I have a way to help you replenish some soldiers."

  Pornegelin was overjoyed when he heard that there was a way to replenish soldiers, and asked repeatedly: "Quickly tell me, what is the way, and how can we replenish soldiers?"

"I just talked about this with Comrade Marshal. He said that the Supreme Command may not replenish our troops in a short period of time. Therefore, the soldiers of the various units under the front army should be those who have just been injured from the army field hospital or other health camps. The wounded returning to the team."

  Pornegelin couldn't help but feel a little disappointed: "To be honest, the commander and I discussed the same issue not long ago. We felt that the wounded returning from field hospitals and health battalions were the only way for us to replenish our troops."

"It's too small, Ponedelin, your structure is too small." Bogolyubov said with a smile: "When it comes to using the wounded who have been discharged from the hospital to fill the vacancies of the lack of troops, we can't just consider the army field hospital. Or health camps, there are other units that can be considered.”

Hearing what Bogolyubov said, Ponedelin was taken aback for a moment, and then thought of a possibility: "Old man, you want to tell me that besides the wounded soldiers who can be discharged from the army field hospital and the wounded by health workers, there are also To recruit wounded soldiers from the field hospital of the front army? Is my understanding correct?"

   "Old friend, I didn't say anything. You guessed everything." Bogolyubov joked on the other end of the phone: "If someone asks, I will never admit it."

   "But if we go to recruit the wounded from the field hospital of the front army, will there be any trouble?"

   "What trouble can there be?" Bogolyubov added: "Comrade Marshal said that there are only so many wounded, and whoever grabs it first will belong to him."

  (end of this chapter)