Red Moscow

"Comrade commander, we were wrong!" After a brief silence, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division first apologized to Sokov and said: "We resolutely obey your order and stay and stick to Minsk."

Sokov has dealt with the German army for such a long time, and he has a certain understanding of Model. He knows that he, like Manstein and Rommel, is the pillar of the German army. The capture of Minsk was entirely due to the fact that the main force of the German army was restrained by friendly forces.

In the next few days, I am afraid that I will have to bear the wrath of Model's thunder and rely on my own strength to resist the crazy counterattack of the German army. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to reserve more troops for defense.

Seeing that everyone understood their intentions and stopped arguing about who stayed behind and who attacked, Sokov said to Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, arrange defensive areas for the remaining divisions."

In order to rescue the troops of the 4th and 9th armies who were besieged in the Minsk area, Model mobilized three armored divisions, a jerger division and two infantry divisions to participate in the rescue operation.

The task of the 5th Armored Division was to reoccupy the Minsk-Molodechno-Vilnius railway line and road north of Minsk so that the troops of the Northern Army Group could come to support along these roads.

The 12th Armored Division was sent to the southeast of Minsk to block the advance of the 1st Soviet Guards Tank Army.

Model learned that the 48th Army that occupied the city was a unit commanded by Sokov, so he naturally paid enough attention to it. He dispatched two infantry divisions from the precious reinforcements and launched an attack on Minsk, trying to take the This city, which had just been liberated by the Soviet Army, was recaptured.

Sokov naturally wouldn't let Model do what he wanted. He had already arranged his troops and waited for the Germans to come and die.

While Sokov's troops and Model were fighting fiercely north of Minsk, Rokossovsky received a call from Supreme Command. Antonov said on the phone: "General Rokossovsky, the current situation has changed, and your original combat plan also needs to be adjusted accordingly."

Hearing what the other party said, Rokossovsky couldn't help but thumped in his heart, and then asked tentatively, "How to adjust?"

"Immediately hand over Minsk to the troops of the Belarusian Second Front Army, and at the same time, the task of destroying the German army surrounded by the Minsk encirclement is also handed over to the Belarusian Second Front Army. You only need to deploy an army group to strengthen them That's it."

"What, hand over Minsk?" Rokossovsky said with some surprise: "But the Germans are launching a crazy attack on Minsk at the moment. How will the handover work proceed?"

"What, the Germans are madly attacking Minsk?" Antonov was startled into a cold sweat when he heard this. Model's level is obvious to all. If he organizes troops to attack Minsk, can he There are still huge variables in defending the city. He tentatively asked: "General Rokossovsky, I don't know which army is standing in Minsk? Do you need to send troops from nearby for reinforcements?"

Rokossovsky was not surprised that Antonov's face changed when he heard Model's name. After all, even Zhukov had suffered under the opponent's hands, let alone ordinary Soviet commander.

"Don't worry, Comrade Antonov." Fortunately, Rokossovsky quickly reassured him: "Now the 48th Army under the command of Misha is holding on to Minsk. I believe that even if Model himself Commander, I'm afraid I won't be able to please him."

Although he learned that the defenders in the city belonged to Sokov's headquarters, Model's prestige still made Antonov a little uneasy: "Do you need to send him reinforcements?"

"It's not necessary." Rokossovsky said confidently: "Now there are four infantry divisions and two infantry brigades in the city. No matter how strong Model's troops are, he still cannot take the city from Misha. .”

After a short pause, Rokossovsky tentatively asked: "Comrade Antonov, what is our next main task?"

"According to the intention of the Supreme Command," Antonov said, "first concentrate on destroying the Baranovich Group of the German army, and then use the Slopim-Pruzane highway and the Baranovich-Branovich Group to On the two parallel roads of the Leicester Highway, send two armies to develop the results in the direction of Brest, and together with the left wing of your front army, make a deep detour and encircle the German Pinsk Group."

"Understood, Comrade Antonov." After listening to the other party, Rokossovsky nodded and said, "When the 48th Army has repelled the German attack on Minsk, let them advance to the west. , to destroy the Baranovich group of the German army."

"General Rokossovsky," Antonov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, and carefully expressed his opinion: "Isn't the headquarters planning to entrust the task of annihilating the besieged German troops in the Minsk area to Will the Second Belarusian Front complete it? They just need a unit to assist them, and if the 48th Army is handed over to them, it will save the effort of changing defenses. I wonder what you want?"

"No, no, absolutely not." When Rokossovsky heard that Sokov's 48th Army would be handed over to the command of the Belarusian Second Front Army, ten thousand people were naturally unwilling: "I can send more troops to Assisting the Second Belarusian Front, but not Misha's troops."

Antonov asked casually: "Since the 48th Army is not good, which army do you think is more suitable?"

"How about General Gorbatov's 3rd Army?" Rokossovsky said: "I believe they will be able to cooperate with friendly forces, complete the tasks assigned to them by their superiors, and perform their duties well."

"Okay," since Rokossovsky is unwilling to hand over Sokov's 48th Army to friendly forces, and it would be nice to have the 3rd Army, Antonov readily agreed: "I will contact the 2nd Army as soon as possible. Comrades from the front army, let them get in touch with the troops that cooperate with them."

After Rokossovsky finished talking with Antonov, he thought for a while, and then connected to the 3rd Army Command: "I am Rokossovsky, let General Gorbatov take the call." Telephone."

Hearing that it was Rokossovsky's call, the staff officer who answered the phone did not dare to neglect, and quickly handed the phone to Gorbatov: "Comrade Commander, it is the call from the Commander of the Front Army."

"Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." When Gorbatov said this, he glanced at Zhukov who was sitting next to him, wondering in his heart why Rokossovsky thought of calling himself at this time, Is something wrong? "Do you have any new tasks for me?"

"You're right, General Gorbatov." Rokossovsky didn't go around in circles, but said bluntly: "From now on, your troops will stay to assist the troops of the Belarusian Second Front Army, and we will eliminate the Besieged German units near Minsk. Do you understand?"

"What, let our group army assist the comrades of the Second Front Army to clear out the besieged enemies near Minsk?" Gorbatov asked in shock after hearing this: "So, from now on, we no longer belong to the First Front Army?"

"Just stay temporarily to assist them in fighting." Rokossovsky didn't know whether his superiors would assign his troops to friendly troops to command, so he could only say vaguely: "I want to wait until Belarus is liberated." , the superior will let your troops regroup."

But Rokossovsky's words did not reassure Gorbatov. On the contrary, he still tried to change the already made decision: "Comrade commander, is there really no room for redemption?"

"General Gorbatov, an order is an order." Rokossovsky said in an unquestionable tone: "Your responsibility is to carry out the tasks of your superiors, and there is no room for bargaining. Do you understand?"

Before Gorbatov could answer, he continued, "Is Marshal Zhukov by your side?"

"Yes," Gorbatov glanced at Zhukov, and hope rekindled in his heart: "Comrade Marshal is here with me, do you need to talk to him?"

"Yes, give him the phone."

Soon, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Koschka, I'm Zhukov!"

"Hello, Georgy Konstantinovich." Rokossovsky called Zhukov's real name and father's name affectionately, and asked tentatively: "The 3rd Army will soon assist the 2nd Army. The front army is fighting, I wonder what your plan is next? Should you stay in the 3rd Army, or come to my headquarters?"

Zhukov has been staying at Gorbatov's army headquarters since the beginning of Bagration's operation, keeping abreast of the progress of this unit, and at the appropriate time, giving Gorbatov some suggestions of his own . Now that this unit is going to break away from Rokossovsky's command, it is obviously inappropriate to continue to stay, so Zhukov only thought for a moment before replying without hesitation: "Koschka, I will return to your headquarters. "

Hearing that Zhukov wanted to leave, Gorbatov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Although Zhukov has been staying at his headquarters since before the start of the battle, he has put a certain amount of psychological pressure on himself. But at the same time, it is also a good thing. Not only can you get the supplies first, but you can even learn something useful from Zhukov during the battle. This is a valuable experience that is worthless. Now that he has left like this, he will lose a teacher. In the future, when logistics supplies his troops, he will no longer look at Zhukov's face and give priority to providing supplies for himself.

Although his heart was full of regrets, since Zhukov had decided to leave, Gorbatov could only watch Zhukov leave, no matter how reluctant he was.

After Zhukov came to Rokossovsky's headquarters, he asked curiously: "Koschka, what's going on? Well done, how did Gorbatov's 3rd Army become the 2nd Front Army? force?"

"Georgi Konstantinovich, Antonov called me and said that this is what the superiors mean, let us give the task of annihilating the besieged enemies in the Minsk area to the troops of the Second Front At the same time, it was emphasized that we should send an army to assist them in completing this task. Originally, Antonov wanted to keep Misha's 48th Army, but later I considered Misha's two infantry divisions and an infantry brigade , is assisting Batov's troops to carry out a concentric assault in the general direction of Baranovich to encircle the German Baranovich Group and annihilate it.

If Misha's troops were to be assigned to the Second Front Army at this time, it would mean that the troops participating in the attack would need to be readjusted. In order to avoid unnecessary confusion, after consideration, I decided that Gorbatov's 3rd Army would assist the troops of the Second Front to encircle and wipe out the encircled enemies. "

"Koschka, you are very thoughtful." Zhukov agreed with Rokossovsky's arrangement: "I think it is undoubtedly the best choice to keep Misha's 48th Army. I I believe that in this Operation Bagration, Misha's troops will create more miracles. As his superior, you also have a share in the honor he has won."

"You are right." Rokossovsky did have such an idea to leave Sokov's troops, but more importantly, with Sokov's existence, it will be a great opportunity for Model A nightmare, so he admitted with a big grin: "I do have such thoughts."

"Kostika, which army do you want me to go to next?" Zhukov asked with a smile, "Or, I'll go directly to Misha's army."

"I think it's best not to." Rokossovsky vetoed Zhukov's proposal, and explained to him: "Misha's command tactics have always been ingenious. If there is a senior commander sitting by his side at any time, it may happen Affect his judgment, and maybe he will become hesitant when making decisions."

Zhukov was just joking, but now that Rokossovsky has carefully analyzed the disadvantages of going to the 48th Army, he began to think about whether he would make Sokov's command suffer if he really went to the 48th Army. level. After thinking for a while, he couldn't think of a reason, so he asked Rokossovsky: "Koschka, which army do you think I should go to?"

"General Batov's 65th Army." Rokossovsky said without hesitation: "Batov and you are old friends, even if you stay in his headquarters every day, it will not be a problem to him. A sense of oppression. Of course, this is just my suggestion, as for where you end up going, it’s up to you to decide.”

"Then go to Batov." Zhukov accepted Rokossovsky's suggestion and chose Batov's troops: "Koschka, you are right, Batov and I are old friends Even though our identities are very different, we are still very casual when chatting, and I believe that even if I go, it will not cause him any sense of oppression."

"Now that you've made your decision, I'll call Batov immediately." Seeing that Zhukov was willing to go to Batov's troops, Rokossovsky couldn't help showing joy on his face: "Then send someone to take you there."

"No need, you don't need to call Batov, and you don't need to send someone to see me off." Zhukov waved his hand and said casually, "I'll just go there. You don't need to worry about me, just keep busy with your work."

Although Zhukov said that there was no need for escorts, Rokossovsky was not at ease. Although the Soviet army had the initiative on the battlefield, there would still be sporadic German troops in the occupied area. If he did not send escorts, Zhukov would find them. When attacked by these people, the problem will become serious.