Red Moscow

"I don't think our division can leave Luhansk at any time." Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky, and after learning about Popov's situation, he expressed his opinion without hesitation. Reason: "Manstein's troops have been supplemented and strengthened, and their technical equipment far exceeds ours. If we rashly leave Lugansk to support friendly forces, we will be easily defeated by the enemy."

After speaking impassionedly, Sokov immediately regretted it in his heart. He felt that he had made a low-level mistake, that is, he talked too much, even if the person he was talking to was Rokosovs who trusted him very much. base.

Fortunately, Rokossovsky did not care about Sokov's attitude. Instead, after a while of silence, he continued: "Misha, I admit that what you said is very reasonable. But as far as Popov is concerned, Quickly gather the nearest troops. Once you see them in danger, you can't do nothing. If you allow the Germans to destroy them, the enemy will soon turn around and attack you. With your strength, can you Blocking the enemy's attack will also be a problem."

Now that Rokossovsky has said this, Sokov decided to take a step back: "Commander of the Front Army, although we cannot leave the existing defensive position, we can meet the defeated troops here and let them Safely retreat into our zone."

The purpose of Rokossovsky's call to Sokov was to allow the remaining troops to safely withdraw to Lugansk after Popov's group was defeated, but he was worried that Sokov would not agree. Therefore, during the call, he deliberately asked Sokov to reinforce Popov. Now that the goal has been achieved, he finally said: "When your division's defense area starts to receive Popov's troops, remember to notify me. .”

When Sokov put down the phone, he thought to himself that if he was in command of the Kharkov campaign, he would definitely wait for all the troops participating in the battle to be in place, leaving enough reserves before launching the attack. At the same time, the logistics supply base must also move forward with the combat troops to ensure that the troops can be supplied in a timely manner.

But he thought about it again. The victory of the Battle of Stalingrad made many senior commanders of the Soviet army dazzled by the victory. Drive out of the country. This kind of steady, steady, step-by-step tactics of my own will definitely not work.

"Chief of Staff," he turned to Sidolin and said, "The commander of the front army just gave me an order to find a way to contain more troops when General Popov's rapid group was hit hard by the Germans and the troops were defeated. Commanders and fighters entered our division's defense zone."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin immediately understood Sukov's meaning when he heard Suokov say this: "You mean to prepare a place for them as soon as possible, right?"

"That's right, even if only one or two thousand people retreat into our defense zone, their food and accommodation will be a big problem." Sukov said: "Also, there must be a large number of wounded among them, and now the city There is only a medical team led by Asiya, and I am afraid that it will not be able to take care of so many wounded."

"Then should we notify Military Doctor Pavlov and let him immediately lead the newly established field hospital forward?"

"That's right, Misha." Bely on the side chimed in and said, "I also think the time is ripe for the field hospital to be moved forward. Let them come here earlier. Even if there is a battle here, there will be enough medical personnel to take care of the wounded."

At the beginning, Sokov delayed the arrival of the field hospital to Luhansk, firstly because there was enough time to set up a field hospital, and secondly because there were not so many wounded and sick to be treated in the city. Now that the situation has changed, it is a matter of course for the field hospital to rush to Lugansk. He nodded and said to Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to Military Doctor Pavlov, ordering him to immediately lead the field hospital and rush to Lugansk with enough medicines to prepare for combat missions."

Besides, Pavlov, who was staying in the city of Stalingrad, could not wait to go to Luhansk to join the division headquarters after completing the establishment of the field hospital. However, he has not received the order to move forward for a long time, so he can only stay in the city and conduct various trainings for newly added health workers every day.

After receiving the telegram from Sidolin, he immediately summoned all the medical staff in the field hospital, waved the telegram in his hand, and said excitedly: "Comrades, I just received a telegram from the Chief of Staff, He ordered our field hospital to rush to Luhansk immediately to join the main force of the division." The medical staff who lined up couldn't help cheering loudly when they heard what Pavlov said and thought that they were about to go to the front line.

When the medical staff regained their tranquility, Pavlov arranged for the departure sequence: military doctors and senior health workers, the first group to go to Luhansk by car; and the new health workers who have just finished training, as the second echelon, escorting medicines Then head to the front.

When the medical staff boarded the car one after another, the political commissar of the hospital asked Pavlov in a low voice: "Comrade dean, what about Ada? Let her stay and take care of the wounded, or go to Luhansk with us?"

According to Pavlov's original intention, Ada must stay here to take care of the wounded. After all, she brought many wounded back from Luhansk herself. But after thinking about it, it wouldn't be right to let Ada stay. What if my field hospital leaves and other troops take over here, see Ada here, and directly assign her to another field hospital, what should I do? If there is something wrong with Ada, I am afraid that no one will be able to appease Rokossovsky's anger.

Thinking of this, Pavlov gritted his teeth and said, "Let Ada go with us and get to Lugansk as soon as possible."

The political commissar of the hospital did not expect Pavlov to make such a decision, and asked in surprise, "Comrade dean, don't you worry that Ada will be in danger at the front line?"

"Comrade Political Commissar," Pavlov said, looking at the political commissar of the hospital, "Even if you stay here, it may not be safe. If other troops take over here and see Ada taking care of the wounded, without knowing her identity, It is dangerous to send her directly to their field hospital and let her go to the battlefield to rescue the wounded."

In order to dispel the concerns of the political commissar, Pavlov went on to say: "Even if the battle in Luhansk is fierce in the future, as long as the two of us are still alive, no one will let Ada go to a dangerous place. Do you understand, my political commissar Comrade?"

After Pavlov's explanation, the political commissar immediately realized that he had not considered properly, and that Ada should indeed be allowed to follow the troops, so he nodded and said, "I understand, then let Ada and us go to Luhansk in the same car. Bar."