Red Moscow

When the two units of the Fifth Guards Division and the Ninth Guards Division were advancing along the road towards the Istria Reservoir, Rokossovsky from time to time learned about the progress of the two divisions through Chief of Staff Malinin.

As the commander of the 16th Army, he was most worried that the Istria River might become a natural barrier on the way of the army's attack. In order to prevent the enemy from fortifying the Istria River area, in addition to ordering his divisions to move forward quickly and forcefully cross the Istria River, he also formed a right-wing group commanded by Major General Remizov and Kutukov The left wing group commanded by the major general was to detour the Istria reservoir from the north and south sides when the enemy blew up the dam.

Just when he was restless, Ma Linin came over and handed him a telegram, and said to him: "Comrade Commander, General Mironov, the commander of the 5th Guards Division, has called, and the 765th Guards Regiment has sent a A small team, going through the forest on a special mission to protect the dam."

Rokossovsky took a look at the telegram and couldn't help frowning: "There are still a few people left in Lieutenant Sokov's company. If you want them to protect the dam that the Germans are about to blow up, Batrakov Isn't this nonsense?"

Regarding Rokossovsky's statement, Malinin replied with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, if we send a large force through the forest to seize the Istria reservoir dam, we will not be able to carry heavy weapons at all. Once When they were spotted by the enemy while marching, the sneak attack would turn into a strong attack, and our army could not capture the dam heavily guarded by the German army without being equipped with heavy weapons."

After Malinin finished speaking, Rokossovsky said angrily: "Since a large force cannot capture the dam, can a small force complete the task?"

"The small number of troops also has the advantage of having a small number of people. In this way, their targets are small when they operate, and they are not easily detected by the enemy when they pass through the snow-covered forest." Ma Linin looked at Rokossovsky and said with a smile on his face. : "Sokov has a flexible mind and a lot of tricky ideas. I think he will be able to complete this task well."

Hearing what Malinin said, Rokossovsky chuckled and said, "Chief of Staff, I almost forgot if you didn't tell me. This Misha is indeed very capable. He was a corporal at the beginning of the month. In less than ten days, he has already become a lieutenant, his future is limitless."

Ma Lining echoed with emotion: "If his father hadn't died too early, he might be a general by now."

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, you're right." Malinin's words reminded Rokossovsky of his comrade-in-arms who died young, "Old Misha was a very good commander, and he also had a wealth of knowledge. Combat experience. With his ability, if he lived to this day, he would at least be an army commander. I hope Sokov can inherit his father's behest, grow up quickly in the war, and become an excellent commander. "

After a long night of waiting, Major General Mironov, commander of the 5th Guards Division, sent a telegram to the headquarters, reporting to Rokossovsky that the 586th Infantry Regiment of the division had successfully reached East. West bank of the La River.

When seeing this telegram, Rokossovsky asked Malinin in surprise: "Chief of Staff, the 586th Infantry Regiment has successfully crossed the Istria River. So, the Istria Reservoir Dam has not Was blown up by the enemy?"

Since the content of the telegram was very brief, Ma Linin could not know the specific situation, so he could only say vaguely: "Comrade Commander, I think it should be like this."

In order to find out what was going on, Rokossovsky ordered Malinin: "Chief of Staff, immediately get in touch with Commander Mironov to find out whether the dam of the Istria Reservoir has been preserved intact. come down?"

Ma Linin got up and called the headquarters of the 5th Guards Division. After a while, he came back and reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, everything is clear, the dam of the Istria Reservoir is not was destroyed by the Germans." After he finished these two sentences, seeing that Rokossovsky seemed to want to ask something, he took the initiative to add, "Major General Mironov told that the commander of the 765th regiment, Bart In the report of Lieutenant Colonel Rakoff, the German army tried to blow up the dam, but due to the tenacious fighting of Lieutenant Sokov, the German engineers who carried out the blasting were eliminated, the enemy's attempt was destroyed, and the dam was successfully saved. dam."

"It's amazing, Lieutenant Sokov and the others have done a good job." After listening to the report, Rokossovsky stood up and walked back and forth in the room, and at the same time said excitedly: "Because they successfully protected the dam, the The enemy's plot to use floods to block the way of our army went bankrupt, which created favorable conditions for us to eliminate more Japanese invaders."

After saying these words, Rokossovsky stopped and asked Lobachev, the military commissar of the group army sitting beside him: "Comrade military commissar, according to the great results achieved by Lieutenant Sokov and the others, what do you say?" , what kind of reward should be given to them?"

If it was ordinary fighters who made meritorious service, Lobachev would certainly not hesitate to say award them medals or something. But now hearing Rokossovsky raise the matter so solemnly, he had to be cautious. After a few minutes of deliberation, he finally spoke: "Comrade Commander, in view of the contributions made by Lieutenant Sokov, I propose to award him the Order of the Red Banner in recognition of his outstanding performance in the defense of the motherland." Extraordinary courage and dedication. And the three companies he led can be awarded the honorary title of 'Istria Company'."

In order to make Lobachev realize the importance of successfully defending the dam, he specifically emphasized: "If the Japanese bandits blow up the dam of the reservoir, the huge surging water will give us the next step of action." It caused great difficulties. Lieutenant Sokov successfully defended the dam, allowing our army to pass through the ice on the Istria River smoothly, and continue to pursue the fleeing enemy, which led to the battle in a direction favorable to our army Development. I think it is far from enough for him to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner for such outstanding contributions.”

Seeing that Rokossovsky rejected his proposal, Lobachev was not angry, but asked with a smile: "Comrade Commander, in your opinion, what medal should he be awarded?"

Rokossovsky pondered for a moment, and then announced: "In addition to awarding the honorary title of 'Istria Company' to the third company, I think the company commander, Lieutenant Sokov, can be awarded an Order of Lenin."

"What, the Order of Lenin?" Lobachev was silent for a long time after hearing Rokossovsky's proposal, and finally said cautiously: "Comrade Commander, the Order of Lenin is the highest order in our country so far. We have no right to award such medals to the commanders and fighters below before we get the authorization from our superiors."

"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right. The group army is indeed not qualified to award the Order of Lenin to the commanders and fighters below, but the head of the front army should have this qualification?" After seeing Lobachev nodding in approval, he picked up the table "I'll call Comrade Zhukov right now, hoping he can support my decision."

When Zhukov heard on the phone that Rokossovsky was going to award a lieutenant the Order of Lenin, he immediately rejected it without hesitation: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the Order of Lenin is a very valuable medal, representing the highest Honor, not everyone can get it, it has a strict approval process. You should know that Bulganin, the military commissar of the Front Army, is a comrade with strong principles. Even if I agree to your request, the award application has reached him There, too, it will be rejected."

"Comrade General, please listen to me." Rokossovsky reported to Zhukov in detail how the small force led by Lin Hua successfully kept the Istria Reservoir Dam. In order to impress Zhukov, he finally said: "I have one more thing to tell you, this Lieutenant Sokov is the son of Mikhail Ivanovich."

"What, what, Rokossovsky, what did you just say?" Zhukov asked in surprise when he heard this, "You said Lieutenant Sokov is the son of the regimental commander Misha we know?"

"That's right, it's him." Rokossovsky gave Zhukov an affirmative answer on the phone, "and before our big counteroffensive began, he led a squad of soldiers who successfully blocked the rushing attack. Enemies of Khimki."

A few minutes ago, Zhukov was still trying his best to oppose awarding a lieutenant with the Order of Lenin, which represents the highest honor of the Soviet Union, but he changed his mind after learning that this person was actually the son of his old comrade-in-arms. He held the microphone and thought for a moment, then said: "Well, Comrade Rokossovsky, I agree with you and award Lieutenant Sokov the Order of Lenin. As for the military commissar Bulganin, I will personally persuade him .”