Red Moscow

As Sokov's troops were preparing for battle, an unfortunate incident occurred. On the way back from his mission, the director of the armored forces of the group army ran over a landmine planted by the German army in his jeep and died on the spot.

Although there are not many tank units in the 48th Army, without the director of armored forces, the tank units will lose a unified command, so someone must be found to replace him as soon as possible.

"Commanders, commanders," Sokov looked at his deputies and raised his voice, "Although the number of tank brigades and tank regiments in our army group is not large, there is no unified command. Arrange for a new commander to serve as the director of the armored forces as soon as possible. I wonder if you have any suitable candidates?"

"How about Lieutenant Colonel Glushko?" Ponegerin first expressed his opinion: "I think it is more appropriate for him to be the director of the armored forces."

But as soon as his candidate was proposed, he was opposed by Sokov: "No, Comrade Deputy Commander. Lieutenant Colonel Glushko is an excellent infantry commander. If he is allowed to command the tank unit, it is a professional Wrong. Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have any suitable candidates?"

Sidolin listened to Sokov asking himself, thought for a moment, and asked tentatively: "What about Major Sukharev? According to my observation, he is outstanding among the students. If he is appointed as the director of the armored force, he will definitely I will do my best to assist you in your work.”

But the candidate proposed by Sidolin was still rejected by Sokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, like Lieutenant Colonel Glushko, Major Sukharev is still familiar with infantry, and he is a layman for tank troops."

Even two candidates were rejected by Sokov, and everyone remained silent, seriously thinking about whether there were any candidates among the people they knew who were suitable for the position of director of the armored forces of the group army.

After a long time, seeing that everyone was silent, Sokov said: "Commanders, since no one can propose a suitable candidate, I am going to let Colonel Kirillov temporarily take this position. Once a suitable candidate is found, it will not be too late for him to hand over his position.”

Unexpectedly, Sokov's proposal to let Kirillov be the director of the armored forces was rejected by Kirillov: "Comrade commander, thank you for your kindness. But I don't think I am suitable for this position. You should let others Come and take this seat."

Sokov was dissatisfied with the candidates proposed by Ponejielin and Sidolin, and Sokov proposed to let Kirillov take up this position, but was rejected by the parties. For a while, Sokov was caught in a dilemma.

"Comrade Commander," Ponegerin said tentatively, seeing Sokov's frown, "I have a suitable candidate for the post of director of the armored corps."

Hearing what Kirillov said, Sokov's eyes lit up immediately, and he said hastily, "Colonel Kirillov, who is the candidate you recommended, and what position is he holding now?"

"Comrade Commander, the person I recommend is Malyshev, the rank of colonel." Kirillov said cautiously: "Now he is the chief of the supply department in the logistics department of the group army."

"The Chief of the Supply Department of the Logistics Department?!" Hearing the person recommended by Kirillov, Sokov couldn't help frowning: "Is he really suitable for this position?"

"Very suitable, Comrade Commander." Kirillov said to Sokov: "He had commanded armored units before the war and has rich command experience."

"Kirilov, since he commanded the armored force before the war, why is he assigned to the logistics department now?" Ponedelin asked tentatively, "Could it be that he made some mistakes?"

"Also," Sidolin waited for Ponedellin to finish, and interrupted to ask, "Comrade Colonel, what rank was this Colonel Malyshev before the war?"

"Colonel," replied Kirillov without hesitation, "he was a colonel until the war broke out."

This time it was Sokov's turn to frown. Since this person was a colonel before the war and had commanded a tank unit, how come three years after the war broke out, he was still standing still? Important command positions were transferred to logistics units.

"Colonel Kirillov," Sokov asked Kirillov with a straight face, "his military rank has not changed in the past few years. Did he make any mistakes that caused his military rank to be promoted in the past few years?" Under the circumstances, was assigned to the logistics department?"

"How should I put it?" Kirillov said with some hesitation: "He once ordered people to blow up the Dnieper River Bridge outside Smolensk without asking for instructions, and was even ordered by the Western Army to issued an arrest warrant for the crime of disrupting the restoration of order in Smolensk by blowing up bridges over the Dnieper River."

"Blow up the bridge over the Dnieper River?" Sokov was confused and asked, "Why did he blow up the bridge?"

"Comrade Commander, if you are interested, I can call someone over." Kirillov said with a smile, "It would be more appropriate for you to ask him face to face."

In order to find out about Colonel Malyshev's bombing of the Dnieper Bridge, Sokov agreed to Kirillov's request and asked him to invite Malyshev to his headquarters.

Ten minutes later, Colonel Malyshev, who was not tall and had a round face, appeared in the headquarters.

Sokov shook hands with him, and then asked politely: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that you once ordered to blow up the bridge over the Dnieper River. Is this true?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." To Sokov's question, Malyshev replied affirmatively: "It is true."

"Tell me why you blew up the bridge over the Dnieper."

Since Sokov asked about the matter, Malyshev did not hide anything, and told a past event that had been dusty for three years: "It was one month after the war broke out, when the German army launched a fierce attack on Smolensk. What I know I know a tank brigade and several militia brigades, which stubbornly resisted the enemy's attack in the city. However, due to the difference in strength and equipment, the troops under my command were quickly exhausted. In order to prevent the Germans from passing through the bridge , broke into the city from the left bank of the Dnieper River, I decisively ordered the bridge to be blown up, and the enemy attacking the city was divided into two banks of the Dnieper River."

Sokov heard that under the circumstances at that time, blowing up the Dnieper Bridge was undoubtedly the correct choice. If he was in the city at that time, he might have issued the same order. He paused for a moment, and asked tentatively, "I heard that the Western Army issued an arrest warrant for you. How did you escape safely in the end?"

"It was General Lukin, the commander of the 16th Army, and Colonel Sharin, the chief of staff, who rescued me." Malyshev explained: "Colonel Sharin told the members of the investigation team that the order to blow up the bridge was drafted by him and the director of engineers. , I am nothing more than an executor.

The commander, General Lukin, reported to his superiors that it was precisely because I blew up the bridge in time and divided the enemy attacking Smolensk on both sides of the Dnieper River, so that the enemy could not complete their intention of capturing the city in a short time. Not only is there no fault, but it is meritorious. "

Sokov knew that Lukin and Colonel Sharin rescued Malyshev, but why he was sent to the logistics department again was an unsolved mystery: "Then how did you go to the logistics department?"

"It's like this," Malyshev continued to Sokov: "Although with the help of General Lukin and Colonel Sharin, I was temporarily out of danger. But with the transfer of General Lukin and Colonel Sharin, this The matter was brought up again to make a fuss. To make matters worse, the 16th Army was annihilated by the Germans in the Vyazma area. After screening and reviewing, they were assigned to work in the logistics department."

Hearing the other party mention the 16th Army many times, Sokov was thinking secretly in his heart. After Lukin left the 16th Army, Rokossovsky took over the post of commander. no impression.

Sokov then thought, if Konev had not ordered Rokossovsky to go to Vyazma to receive the troops, but had asked Lukin to receive the troops, would history have been rewritten here? The original wartime marshal Rokossovsky became a prisoner of the Germans; and General Lukin, who was captured by the Germans, was lucky to become another wartime marshal?

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." Seeing Sukov suddenly fell silent, Sidolin touched him with his elbow, and when he looked at him, he said in a low voice; "What do you think?"

"What are you thinking about?" Sokov was still thinking about the change of identities between Lukin and Rokossovsky, so he didn't understand what Sidolin meant for a while.

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin saw that Sokov was absent-minded at the moment, and quickly explained to him: "Do you agree to let Colonel Malyshev be the director of the armored forces?"

"I am going to appoint Colonel Malyshev as the director of the Armored Forces of the Group Army." Sokov sat up straight, coughed lightly, cleared his throat and said, "I don't know if you have any different opinions."

Colonel Malyshev never dreamed that Kirillov called himself here, and after asking Sokov to ask him, he was planning to appoint himself as the director of the armored forces of the group army. In addition to being pleasantly surprised, he stared at the several commanders present, full of apprehension, deeply afraid that anyone would raise objections.

Fortunately, Malyshev’s worries did not come true. As soon as Sokov’s words fell, Ponejielin and others expressed their support for Sokov’s appointment. Colonel Malyshev will be the director of armored forces of the group army .

Shortly after Colonel Malyshev left, Rokossovsky called. He asked with concern on the phone: "Misha, I heard that the director of your armored force was unfortunately killed by a mine on the way back from his mission?"

"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov said with a heavy heart: "It is true that the director of my armored force was struck by a mine and died."

"What a pity." Rokossovsky sighed and asked tentatively, "Do you need me to send you a new armored officer?"

"Thank you, Comrade General!" Facing Rokossovsky's kindness, Sokov expressed his gratitude, and then said: "But I have appointed a new director of armored forces."

"You have appointed a new director of armored forces?!" Rokossovsky asked curiously, "Who is it?"

"Colonel Malyshev, the new director of armored forces is Colonel Malyshev." Sokov specially emphasized the other party's original identity: "He is the chief of the supply department of the logistics department of the group army."

"Misha, what did you say?" Rokossovsky said in surprise: "If you let a chief of the supply department of the logistics department be the chief of the armored corps, do you think he is competent?"

"I think he should be able to." Sokov said cautiously: "Colonel Malyshev started commanding the armored units before the war broke out. In the battle to defend Smolensk, he once commanded a tank brigade and Several militia brigades fought against the Germans attacking the city."

"Wait a minute, Misha!" Hearing this, Rokossovsky interrupted Sokov, and asked tentatively, "Did this Colonel Malyshev you mentioned blow up the bomb without authorization?" The one who destroyed the bridge over the Dnieper River? The same name, or himself?"

"Of course it's him." Seeing that Rokossovsky was so familiar with this person, Sokov couldn't help but asked with some concern: "Comrade general, you won't object to my appointment, will you?"

"No objection, no objection." Unexpectedly, Rokossovsky said with a smile after hearing this: "I heard about this after I took over the post of commander of the 16th Army. Unexpectedly, he was transferred to Viazma by Marshal Konev to take over the troops and left him in the original troops.

What happened later, you should be very clear. The 16th Army was annihilated by the Germans in Viazma. Only the members of the Army Command led by me went to other places to avoid the fate of being surrounded and wiped out by the Germans. And I also lost the news of this Colonel Malyshev. I thought he died in the battle, but I didn't expect him to be alive. "

From Rokossovsky's words, Sokov realized that the wartime marshal appreciated Malyshev, and his original worries disappeared. But just to be on the safe side, he still asked cautiously: "Comrade General, so you have no objection to my appointment of Colonel Malyshev as the director of the Armored Forces?"

"No objection, no objection." Rokossovsky said: "I think it is undoubtedly the most appropriate for Colonel Malyshev to serve as the director of the armored forces. In order to make better use of his strengths, I plan to Give you two more tank brigades."

Sokov never dreamed that Rokossovsky would be so generous to put two tank brigades under his command after learning who his new chief of armored forces was, which surprised him: "Commander Comrade, is this true? Are you really planning to assign two more tank brigades to our command?"

"Of course it is true." Rokossovsky said with affirmative tone: "Misha, when did you see that my words don't count? I said I will give you two tank brigades, and I will definitely give them to you. Finally As late as this evening, you can see these two tank brigades appearing in your defense zone."

"Comrade General." After confirming that Rokossovsky was not joking with himself, Sokov hurriedly said: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 48th Army, I would like to express my gratitude to you. In the next battle, I will Reasonable use of these two tank brigades will allow them to achieve greater results."