Red Moscow

In late April, it was already well known that Marshal Konev was transferred to the Ukrainian First Front Army. When everyone learned that Sokov would also go to the First Front Army with Marshal Konev, they couldn't help discussing in private. They felt that with Sokov's ability and achievements, he might have the opportunity to become the deputy commander of the Front Army after passing. member.

But what is surprising is that the day before Konev went to Moscow to participate in the May 1st military parade, the Front Army Command officially announced the new appointment of Sokov.

When the appointment was officially announced, everyone including Sokov was dumbfounded.

Others were dumbfounded because they discovered that after Sokov went to the First Front Army, his position was not the deputy commander of the Front Army, but a commander of the group army.

But Sokov, Ponedelin, Kirillov and others were dumbfounded because the army that arranged for him to be the commander was not the 40th army of Lieutenant General Zhimachenko as agreed in advance, but Poleno Lieutenant General Husband's 47th Army.

Seeing the letter of appointment written in black and white, Ponejielin frowned and asked Sokov: "Comrade commander, what is going on? I didn't mean that you were appointed as the commander of the 40th Army. What about the 47th Army?"

"I don't know." After receiving the letter of appointment, Sokov once called the headquarters of the Front Army, wanting to know the reason from Konev, but Zakharov who answered the phone said apologetically: " I'm sorry, Comrade Sokov, Marshal Konev has already gone to Moscow to participate in the May Day military parade, and he won't be able to return until after the 5th at the earliest."

Sokov originally thought that Zakharov, as Konev's chief of staff, had a good relationship with him, so he should be able to tell himself the reason, so he tentatively asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, since Marshal Konev is not here, how about I would like to ask you, why has my assignment changed? From the original 40th Army to the 47th Army?"

At the beginning, Zakharov, as Konev's representative, went to Otac to discuss the future with Sokov. But when he heard Sokov's question today, he was speechless, and he didn't know why his superiors adjusted the original plan and appointed Sokov as the commander of the 47th Army.

Hearing Sokov's questioning at this moment, he could only act like a rogue: "Comrade Sokov, this is a matter for your First Front Army. Although I am the chief of staff of the Second Front Army, as for your affairs, Still don't have permission to know."

After hearing Zakharov's answer, Sokov knew that if he continued to ask, he would not gain anything, so he stopped wasting time and hung up the phone directly.

Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Kirillov asked urgently: "Comrade Commander, did General Zakharov say why the superior suddenly changed his mind?"

"I didn't ask anything." Sokov shook his head and said, "It seems that he doesn't know the specific situation. And Marshal Konev, the only one who knows the inside story, has gone to Moscow at the moment and can't be contacted for a while."

But Ponegerin, who was the first to ask the question, remained silent at this time, as if thinking about something. After a long time, he said, "Comrade Commander, I still have a few reliable friends in Moscow. I'm going to ask them about the situation of the 47th Army, and then I'll report back to you."

After speaking, after obtaining Sokov's consent, he got up and left the room.

Ponedelin left, and Kirillov felt that there was no point in staying any longer, so he also got up and left.

After both of them left, Smirnov walked in from the outside and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, although our partner has only been in a few months, we have learned that you are going to be transferred. I still feel very sorry for it.”

Sokov said with a chuckle: "The superior may feel that my mission in the 53rd Army has been completed, and then I will be transferred to a new unit."

"Comrade Commander, I heard a rumor." After sitting down next to Sokov, Smirnov said, "It was said that the superior originally planned to send you to the 40th Army, but in today's appointment, it was inexplicably changed to The 47th Army. Right?"

Now that the appointment given to him by his superiors has been announced, even if he conceals it, someone will soon find out the truth, so Sokov replied truthfully: "Yes, there is such a thing."

Smirnov glanced in the direction of the door. Although he didn't see anyone, he still lowered his voice and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I heard that in the appointment letter of the superior, it was originally written that the 40th Army Group. However, a certain former commander of the Army Group may be worried that after you go, you will achieve more impressive results than him, thus covering up his past glory, so he moved behind the scenes and caused you to be transferred to 47th Army."

Sokov never dreamed that his job change was actually done by someone behind the scenes. Although Smirnov did not specify which former commander it was, he guessed the answer after a little thought, and tentatively asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I wonder who is behind the scenes?" Yes. Is this person in the 38th Army now?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Smirnov didn't say anything, but just laughed dryly twice, assuming that he acquiesced to Sokov's statement. He said calmly: "You won the rank of general at a young age, and you also commanded a combat group with four armies. It is no wonder that others are not jealous. What's more, if you go to the 40th army, you will definitely Give the army a new look, and then a former commander may feel that he has lost face, so he will try to stop you."

But Sokov was soon relieved. He said with a chuckle: "Chief of Staff, in fact, this shows in a disguised form that the other party admits that my achievements on the battlefield are far superior to his. If I succeed him in the past Didn’t the troops he commanded cover up his previous halo, so he naturally has to find a way to prevent this from happening.”

"By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov thought that he would soon go to the 47th Army to take up his post. Knowing more about the situation of this army would be very helpful for the work: "Do you know the 47th Army? ?”

"I don't understand." Smirnov replied simply: "After all, we have so many army groups. It is simply impossible to know the situation of each army."

Seeing the disappointment on Sokov's face, he quickly added: "But I can ask my friends, and I will tell you as soon as I have any news."

The fact that Sokov was appointed as the commander of the 47th Army was different from Muzichenko who was shocked by everyone. He secretly rejoiced that he rejected Sokov's request, otherwise he would have a look at Sokov and become a Everyone's private laughing stock.

"Comrade Commander," Major Lekashari, the chief of staff, saw that Muzichenko was silent and thought he was worried about Sokov's future, so he hurriedly asked with concern: "Why did the superior suddenly appoint the commander as the commander of the 47th Army Group?" What's going on here? Did he make some mistake?"

"Made a mistake?" Hearing Lekashari's statement, Muzichenko asked in surprise: "Chief of staff, why do you think that the commander made a mistake and was appointed as the commander of the 47th Army?" where?"

"Comrade Commander's current position is the commander of the combat group, and at the same time he is in command of two integrated corps of various arms and two tank armies." Lekashari said: "According to his current position, even if he has gone to the first side Army, should also be the deputy commander of the front army. Who knows that the superiors only appointed him as the commander of the 47th Army, isn't this equal to demotion?"

Regarding Sokov's position, Muzichenko did not express any opinion, but asked Lekashari: "Chief of Staff, as far as I know, the commander will go to the 47th Army this time, and he will send a general from Frunze All the students from the military academy were taken away, and you were one of them. I don’t know if you want to stay or go? If you want to go, I have nothing to say; if you want to stay, I will go to the commander and speak well for you. "

The reason why Muzichenko wanted to keep Lekashari was entirely because the chief of staff cooperated very well with him. If he leaves, it may take a long time for the new chief of staff sent by the superior to cooperate so well.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard Likashali say: "Commrade commander, thank you for your kindness. I have already decided that no matter where the commander goes, I will follow him. I will stay in the army. In seven or eight years, only these few months with the commander did I feel like I learned how to fight."

Knowing that Major Lekashari wanted to leave, Muzichenko said unwillingly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't you think about it anymore? Maybe it's your best choice to stay."

"Master, thank you for your kindness." Major Lekashari repeated what he said just now: "I have made a decision. No matter where the commander goes, I will follow him."

"Well, since you have already made a decision, I will respect your decision." Seeing that Lekashari was determined to leave with Sokov, Muzichenko knew that it was useless to say anything else, so he agreed made his decision. Then he turned his head and asked the other students he had brought from the headquarters: "Then you guys, do you think the same as Major Lekashari?"

"Yes," several staff officers nodded at the same time, and said in an affirmative tone in unison: "We have the same decision as the chief of staff. No matter where the comrade commander goes, we will go with him."

Seeing that several students were preparing to follow Sokov to the 47th Army, like Major Lekashari, Muzichenko suddenly felt as if all his strength had been drained. These people were his most effective assistants. If they all After leaving, I have become a polished commander. I am afraid that in the future, commanding troops will not be as handy as before.

But at the same time, he knew in his heart that since the departure of these subordinates was already a certainty, even if he fired at them, it would be of no use. Instead, he had created a few enemies. So he squeezed a smile on his face and said with a forced smile: "I respect your choices, and I wish you good luck!"

Just when Muzichenko was in a state of desperation, Ponedelin returned to Sokov's office and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I have a general understanding of the situation of the 47th Army, and I need to immediately report to you."

Sokov was also very interested in the unit he was about to take up. Since Ponegerin said that he had already understood the general situation, it would be no harm to listen to it, so he nodded and said, "Okay, let's hear it." .”

"The earliest 47th Army was formed on the basis of the 28th Mechanized Army of the Transcaucasus Military District. It fought in the formations of the Transcaucasus Front Army, the Crimean Front Army and the North Caucasus Front Army. It was disbanded until the end of October 1943, and the troops were handed over to the The 27th and 38th group armies were dispatched, and the group army headquarters led the troops directly under it to transfer to the reserve team of the headquarters of the Supreme Command.

In January of this year, it was temporarily incorporated into the Ukrainian First Front Army. In February, the Army Group Command moved to the Sarny area and was transferred to the newly-built Belarusian Second Front Army. In March, it was incorporated into the 77th and 125th Infantry Corps, as well as the 307th Infantry Division and other units, restoring its combat capability. Defensive operations were carried out on the lines of Yamny and Dombrovica.

In the second half of March, offensive battles were carried out in the direction of Kovel. In early April, was incorporated into the 1st Belorussian Front of General Rokossovsky and fought within its formation..."

"Wait a minute, General Ponegerin." Sokov couldn't help interrupting what Pornegerin said after hearing this, "Didn't my superiors ask me to go to the First Ukrainian Front Army? Why is the 47th Army now Does it still belong to the battle order of the First Belarusian Front?"

"Comrade Commander, this is also something that confuses me." Ponejielin frowned and said: "It stands to reason that it was assigned to the command of the Belarusian First Front Army just earlier this month, and it was assigned to the Ukrainian First Front Army at the beginning of next month." On the one hand, the command of the army, such frequent changes, I think it is a bit unrealistic."

"If the group army is not assigned to the Ukrainian First Front," Sokov also frowned, "in this way, won't we become the subordinates of General Rokossovsky?"

Ponegerin kindly reminded Sokov: "Yes, if the command relationship of the troops does not change, you will be transferred to the 47th Army next month, and then you will become a subordinate of General Rokossovsky. And no longer under the command of Marshal Konev."

Sokov was thinking in his heart that it was not a bad thing for his troops to belong to the First Belarusian Front Army. In a few months, Zhukov would replace Rokossovsky as the new commander of the front. If his troops can stay under Zhukov's command, maybe in the Battle of Berlin next year, he will be the first to command the troops to rush into Berlin.

Seeing Sokov lost in thought, Ponegerin didn't want to disturb him, so he could only sit aside and wait patiently. After finally waiting for Sokov to return to normal, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, why don't you ask Marshal Konev again, will you be his subordinate in the future, or Rokossovsky?" The general's subordinates?"

Sokov shrugged his shoulders after hearing Ponedelin's words, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "General Ponedelin, I also want to ask Marshal Konev what's going on. .But now he is in Moscow and I can't contact him at all, so we will have to wait until he comes back from Moscow."

After hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin was silent for a while, and then said: "Comrade Commander, it is not necessarily a bad thing for us to go to the First Belarusian Front. I heard that General Rokossovsky is also a He is an excellent commander, and he can often win battles with him."