Red Moscow

Rokossovsky went to Moscow and was sent to the hospital because of the attack of old injuries. Sokov, who was far away on the Narew River, knew nothing about it. He is inspecting the defense areas of each division to check the true strength of the troops so that they can be used reasonably in the battle against East Prussia.

When he returned to the headquarters after inspecting the troops with Ponegerin that day, he asked Sidolin who came up to meet him: "Chief of Staff, is there a call from the Front Army Command?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Sidolin shook his head and replied in an affirmative tone: "There is no call."

"Strange, what's going on here?" Sokov couldn't help saying to himself, "Comrade Marshal has been in the Second Front Army for almost a week. Why haven't we received a transfer order yet?"

"Comrade Commander." Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin immediately expressed his thoughts: "Comrade Marshal may have changed his mind, and he does not want to transfer troops from the First Front Army to strengthen the Second Front Army."

"It's impossible." Sokov said to himself that according to historical records, after Rokossovsky served as the commander of the Second Belarusian Front Army, the Supreme Command assigned the 48th, 65th and 70th Army Groups to him. Commander, this is an immutable fact. But the real reason, he could not tell Bornejelin and Sidolin, he could only say euphemistically: "At present, the strength of the Second Front Army is relatively weak, and it will be very difficult to complete the East Prussian strategy independently. It is also reasonable for the First Front Army to deploy troops to strengthen it."

"Even if you want to transfer troops, you don't necessarily have to transfer us." Sidolin said cautiously: "I think the 65th Army of General Batov should be transferred at best, because General Batov is not only the old subordinate of the Marshal, but also his troops. It is also the closest to the Second Front Army.”

"That's not what you said." Sokov shook his head and said, "It's unrealistic to complete the strategy in one direction independently by strengthening only one front army for the second front army. According to my judgment, at least three Only the troops of a group army can meet the needs of operations."

"The three right-wing armies were transferred at once, and the strength of the second front army has indeed increased." Ponegerin originally supported Sokov's statement, but a week later, Rokossovsky's side did not The slightest news made him doubt Sokov's judgment. At this moment, he also echoed Sidolin and said: "But in this way, the strength of the First Front Army has been greatly weakened. Comrade Commander, you also said that if we want to attack Berlin, the Belarusian First Army under the command of Marshal Zhukov The front army is the main force, while Marshal Konev’s Ukrainian First Front Army and Marshal Rokossovsky’s Belarusian Second Front Army are only secondary troops serving as coordinating and covering tasks.”

Sokov thought for a while, and decided to call the Front Army Command and ask Ma Linin to find out what was going on.

Just when Sokov's hand touched the phone, the phone rang first. He grabbed the microphone, put it close to his ear, and said hastily, "I'm Sokov, where are you?"

Hearing Sokov's voice, the other party hesitated for a moment and said, "I am General Zakharov!"

"General Zakharov?" Sokov couldn't help being stunned when he heard the other party's name. He knew very well that Zakharov was the commander of the Second Front Army before Rokossovsky was transferred. staff position. He asked a little strangely: "How could it be you?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Zakharov smiled and said, "Misha, why can't it be me?"

"But, aren't you working for the Second Front Army?"

"Misha, don't you know that I've been transferred to the First Front Army and served as the deputy commander?"

Sokov really didn't know that Zakharov was now in the First Front Army. He said with some surprise: "You have been transferred to our First Front Army?"

"That's right, that's right." Zakharov said in a positive tone: "I originally stayed in the Second Front Army as the deputy commander, but after staying for only two days, I was transferred directly. The position of the deputy commander of the front army."

Since the other party mentioned the Second Front Army, Sokov asked casually, "I wonder how Comrade Marshal is doing now?"

"Not sure." Zakharov said hesitantly: "I heard that he was recruited to Moscow by the Supreme Commander himself, and he hasn't returned yet."

After listening to Zakharov's words, Sokov realized that his troops had not received the transfer order for a long time, which might have something to do with Rokossovsky's departure. If you want to go to the Second Front, I'm afraid you can only wait until Rokossovsky comes back. In order to find out when Rokossovsky will return, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, do you know when the Marshal will return from Moscow?"

"I'm not sure about this." After Zakharov finished speaking, he changed the subject in time: "I called you today because I have something else to inform you."

Seeing that Zakharov was unwilling to talk about Rokossovsky, and Sokov could not pester him, he quickly said, "Comrade Deputy Commander, please tell me."

"It's like this. Marshal Zhukov is going to call several army commanders for a meeting." Zakharov said, "Misha, you happen to be one of them. I hope you will rush to the front army headquarters as soon as possible to attend the meeting."

"Am I going alone?" Sokov asked.

"You can do it alone."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible."

After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Ponedelin and Sidolin: "The new Deputy Commander of the Front, General Zakharov, informed me to go to the headquarters of the Front immediately to attend an emergency meeting convened by Marshal Zhukov."

"Are you going alone?" asked Porneygelin.

"Yes, let me go alone. The two of you can stay and watch the house." After finishing speaking, Sokov shouted to the outside: "Koshkin, Captain Koshkin."

Koshkin, who was standing at the door, heard Rokossovsky's shout, walked in immediately, and asked respectfully, "Comrade commander, what instructions do you have?"

"I'm going to the front army headquarters for a meeting immediately, you bring a few people with me."

Since the route to the Front Army Command was under the control of the Soviet army, Sokov did not bring too many people this time, so he prepared five jeeps, one for him and Koshkin, and the rest of the guards. The officers took the other four vehicles and rushed to the front army headquarters as fast as possible.

An hour later, the convoy arrived at the new headquarters of the Front Army Command.

In front of the checkpoint at the intersection, a captain officer was waiting anxiously. When he saw Sokov's convoy approaching, he quickly stretched out his hand to signal to stop.

After the convoy stopped, the officer ran to the side of the first car and asked loudly, "Is this General Sokov's convoy?"

After getting an affirmative answer, he continued to ask, "Which car is General Sokov in?"

The guard sitting in the car in front quickly pointed out to him the vehicle where Sokov was. After thanking the other party, the officer trotted all the way to Sokov's car.

"Hello, General Sokov!" The officer first bent down and looked into the car. After seeing Sokov clearly in the back row, he took a step back, straightened his body and saluted Sokov, and said respectfully: "I It's the staff officer of the Front Army Command, and I came here to pick you up."

Sokov pushed open the car door, then moved inside, and said to the other party: "Come on, Comrade Captain, you will be our guide!"

Unexpectedly, the officer waved his hand and said, "No need, General Sokov, my motorcycle is right ahead, just let your convoy follow me." After finishing speaking, he turned and left.

When the officer passed the first car, he leaned close to the window and said in a voice that Sokov could hear: "Comrade driver, my motorcycle will lead the way later, and you will follow me."

Soon, the officer came to the checkpoint and got into the sidecar of a three-wheeled motorcycle parked on the side of the road. Following the gesture he made, the motorcyclist immediately started the motorcycle, and the soldiers at the checkpoint also raised the crossbar in time.

The motorbike brought Sokov's convoy to the outside of the headquarters. The officer got off the motorbike and walked quickly to Sokov who had just got off the bike: "Comrade General, please follow me!"

The officer led Sokov into the building, while Koshkin and the guards he brought could only stay outside and wait.

On the way to the meeting room, Sokov tentatively asked the officer: "Comrade Captain, I would like to ask, besides me, which other army commanders are here to attend the meeting?"

When the officer heard Sokov's question, he hesitated for a moment, and finally chose not to say it: "General Sokov, you will know when you get to the meeting room."

There was a table at the door of the conference room, behind which sat a lieutenant without a military cap. Seeing the captain bring Sokov over, the lieutenant hurriedly got up and walked around from behind the table: "You are finally here, Comrade Marshal asked me several times."

Although the lieutenant was talking to the officer who led the way, Sokov felt that he should explain: "After we received the notice, we rushed over as fast as possible, but the road conditions were not ideal, so we were delayed for a while. "

The lieutenant didn't dare to get angry at a commander of Sokov's level, but he said with a smile: "General Sokov, Comrade Marshal and other commanders are waiting for you inside, please go in quickly."

After thanking the lieutenant, Sokov walked quickly to the closed door and shouted inside: "Report!"

Zhukov's majestic voice came from inside: "Come in!"

Sokov pushed open the door and walked in quickly.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw a long wooden table opposite, and Zhukov, Malinin, Terekin, and Zakharov were sitting behind the table, and there were several commanders with shining stars beside them.

Sokov didn't care to see who the generals were, walked quickly to the table, raised his hand to salute Zhukov and others, and then said loudly: "Comrade Marshal, Commander of the 48th Army Sokov Come here on orders, please give instructions!"

Before Zhukov could finish speaking, Zakharov, who was sitting next to him, spoke. He smiled and said, "Misha, you are late. Among the commanders who participated in the meeting today, you were the last one to arrive."

Just as Sokov was thinking about how to answer this question, Zhukov spoke. Today he seems very reasonable: "Misha's station is too far away from the headquarters, and the time to receive the call is also the latest, so it is understandable to be late." He pointed to the side with his hand, "You can do whatever you want. Find a place to sit down."

Sokov agreed, and when he turned to look at the generals sitting next to him, he found that sitting next to him were Batov and the infantry division, plus a general he didn't know. He hurriedly walked to the empty seat next to Batov and sat down. At the same time, he glanced at the general and murmured to himself, "Who is this general? Why have I never seen him before?"

"Misha, you came a bit late, and you missed the self-introduction just now." Zhukov said to Sokov: "Sitting between Generals Batov and General Popov is the commander of the 33rd Army Tsvetayev. General, he has just been transferred from the Second Front."

Sokov got up quickly, and stretched out his hand to Batov through Batov: "Hello, General Tsvetayev."

"Hello, General Sokov." Tsvetayev also extended his hand and shook Sokov.

After the two sat down again, Zhukov continued: "I now announce an official announcement: According to the order of the Supreme Command, the 48th, 65th and 70th armies were assigned to Rokossovsky's Belarusian 1st Army. Command of the Second Front Army. The 33rd Army of the former Belarusian Second Front Army was placed under our command."

When Batov heard this, his face showed joy, and he asked quickly: "Comrade Marshal, when will we officially be included in the Second Front Army?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Batov." Zhukov said, "After I asked Comrade Stalin for instructions, he agreed to keep your three armies for a while until the situation in front of our army stabilizes."

"Comrade Marshal," Batov asked, "if we stay for a while longer, will it affect the implementation of the Second Front Army's combat deployment?"

"No." Zhukov shook his head and said, "From the current situation, the Second Front will not take any military action for the time being."

Hearing what Zhukov said, Batov couldn't help showing a disappointed expression on his face. But he couldn't say anything more, so he could only sit down obediently.

"According to the original battle plan, an attack on Fortress Modlin should be launched in the near future." Although Batov sat down, Zhukov's eyes still stayed on him, "What do you think about this operation?"

Batov stood up again and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, the German army has strong artillery firepower in the Modlin Fortress. If we cannot suppress the enemy's artillery during the attack, then our offensive troops will be killed in a fierce battle." suffered heavy casualties under heavy artillery fire."

"Comrade Marshal." Marinin chimed in and said, "Some time ago we also tried to attack the German positions in the triangle, but because the attacking road was within the coverage of German crossfire and Modlin Fortress fire, Rokosov Commander Ski decisively terminated the offensive operation after the artillery preparation was completed."

"I know that." Zhukov nodded, and turned his attention to Sokov again: "I read the attack plan at the General Staff, and it was originally planned that Misha's 48th Army would be the main attack, but because the enemy The artillery fire was too violent, and in order to avoid unnecessary casualties, Rokossovsky canceled that offensive operation after consulting the Supreme Commander himself."

After a pause, Zhukov continued: "But this time the situation is different. Not only can we use artillery fire to suppress the enemy's artillery positions and fortresses, but we can also dispatch the air force to bomb the above-mentioned areas to ensure our offensive goes smoothly."