Struggle in Soviet Russia

Vasilievsky nodded deeply.

Although Kulik’s commanding ability is not very good, he still has a good personality. Although he was one of the marshals before the war, he was low-key and kind, not like Timoshenko or Bujonni. serious.

It is precisely because of this that he is very popular in the Red Army system, with a lot of friends, and the generals who contradict him are mostly people with grumpy and true love like Zhukov and Ye Leomenko.

Therefore, there are still many people who are willing to give him a hand in his accident this time, including Vasilevsky.

Especially Vasilevsky, he really made a lot of effort during Kulik's censorship. He not only interceded for Kulik in front of Comrade Stalin, but also to many generals who were questioned by the People’s Committee of National Security. Did the work.

How should I say, in Victor's view, the comrade Vasilevsky in front of him is really good at life, and behind his gentle face, there is absolutely no lack of political struggle brains.

It's not that Victor likes to use conspiracy theories to look at others, but there are some things that you can't think about. As long as you think more, you will find some people suspicious.

Take the promotion of a military rank. In March last year, at the end of the Battle of Moscow, the People’s Commissar of National Defense made a decision to grant the rank of general that was originally scheduled for March and adjust it to Decision to be made in September.

At that time, the NKVD’s preliminary opinion was that there were two generals who were then promoted to generals. According to everyone’s guess, these two people were probably from Sokolovsky, Mehlis, Yeremenko, and Vasilievsky were chosen among the four, because these four performed well at the time and they were all generals.

But in comparison, among the four people, Mehlis and Yeremenko are obviously more likely. After all, Sokolovsky has been serving as the chief of staff, and in the Red Army system, The staff system has always been of low status and has not been taken seriously. Vasilevsky was promoted to the rank of general only after the end of the Moscow battle, and his qualifications were too weak.

But the plan will never keep up with the changes. By September, the Battle of Stalingrad was already in full swing, and the assessment of the rank of the general could only be delayed.

Prior to this, in July, General Yeleimenko, who had hoped to be promoted to general, not only suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Bryansk, but also suffered serious injuries.

Even worse, when summarizing the reasons for the failure of the Battle of Bryansk, the General Staff made a comment: When planning for the campaign, the commander of the Front Army could not strictly implement the combat plan formulated by the General Staff and invest in the main areas. Not resolute enough, and so on. At the end of the comment, I added one. Similar problems have been clearly manifested in the Battle of Kiev, but the commander did not summarize the experience of failure and did not receive enough lessons.

Such a comment directly kicked Yeleimenko into the mud. The fiasco at the Battle of Bryansk was under his command. During the Battle of Kiev, it was also because he did not block Guderian’s offensive, which led to the encirclement of the entire Southwest Front. .

Now it’s the new account and the old account. Although Comrade Stalin did not kill him, he has been given the rank of general and relegated to lieutenant general. Moreover, he is no longer allowed to serve as a front-line commander of the front army.

At that time, this summary report of the general staff was drafted by Comrade Antonov, but don’t forget that Vasilevsky was the chief of the general staff.

Interestingly, when the Stalingrad Front Army redeployed in December last year, Comrade Vasilevsky rejected Rokosovsky’s nomination and replaced Yeremenko, who had been reduced to lieutenant general. Comrade, I was recommended to the position of commander of the front army. Therefore, Comrade Rokosovsky, who had been valued by Comrade Stalin at that time, was assigned to the Don Front.

It was also during the Battle of Stalingrad. In July last year, the German army launched a siege of Stalingrad. The intention of the campaign became clear. In accordance with the order of the base camp, the Stalingrad Front Army began to be formed.

At that time, Timoshenko, who was in charge of the formation of the Corps, hoped to transfer the experienced Sokolovsky to Stalingrad as the chief of staff of the front army. In the Red Army system at this time, Sokolov As a staff member, his experience and seniority are recognized, and it is precisely because of this that Timoshing will order his generals.

But in the end, Sokolovsky's name did not appear on the recommended list of the General Staff. In the end, it was Lieutenant General Bogin who teamed up with Timoshenko. Sokolovsky was left in the war. The Western Front was relatively stable, and from beginning to end, he had not been able to lean a little in the direction of the Battle of Stalingrad.

Let’s look at Comrade Mehlis, the popular man in the eyes of Comrade Stalin, the admiral who had hoped to be promoted, also suffered a fiasco in the Kerch Peninsula in July, and he and Kulik shared the same illness.

It's just that Comrade Kulik still has someone to say good things for him, and Meheris, who has offended too many people, has become a complete dog in the water. Now, without the trial of the military court, the position of Deputy People’s Commissar of National Defense and Director of the General Political Department of Mehlis has been lost, and the rank of general is gone.

As a result, Vasilevsky, who was promoted to general a few months ago, and Vatutin, who was promoted to general only three months ago, were on the list of general promotion. Two days later, they will get this. It's an honor.

Whether it is Vasilievsky or Vatutin, they are both members of the General Staff. The two are good friends, one is the chief of the general staff and the other is the deputy chief of the general staff.

Victor doesn't like to look at people too insidiously, when he believes that war is everywhere, but in a slightly different form.

"Okay, let's talk," Victor picked up the pen again, opened the notebook on his lap, and laughed, "Comrade Alexander Mikhailovich, may I ask you about the fiasco of Comrade Kulik on the Kerch Peninsula," What's your opinion?"

Vasilievsky smiled. He lifted the coffee cup in his hand, holding the bottom of the cup in one hand and the handle in the other. After thinking for a moment, he began to explain his views.

Comrade Chief of the General Staff is a good man, so naturally he will not say bad things about Marshal Kulik. His views are the same as those of most generals who have been questioned. He believes that Marshal Kulik should not have the problem of cowardice and cowardice, and his retreat is not without reason. .

After all, the battle situation on the Chi Peninsula was very complicated at that time. His front and right-wing defense lines collapsed. Behind him, there were no Soviet soldiers on the Taman Peninsula and the defense was empty. For the sake of safety, he chose to retreat. Extenuable.

Judgments like this are very old-fashioned, and Victor can write tens of thousands of words without even having to say it.

But just walk through the form, no one will be serious about this kind of questioning, only 15 minutes before and after, the questioning is over.

"Okay, that's it, Alexander," Victor closed the notebook, buttoned the pen, got up from the sofa, stretched out his hand to Vasilevsky and smiled, "Thank you for your cooperation."

Vasilievsky got up, shook hands with him, smiled and said, "It's all I should do."

Victor smiled and said: "The material you provided is the last one. If nothing else, you can submit the relevant materials to the Supervisory Committee this afternoon, and this work is complete."

"So, do you have time at night?" Vasilievsky asked with a smile.

"Oh?" Victor asked. "There should be time, what's the matter?"

"That's it," Vasilevsky took a step forward, put a hand on Victor's arm, and smiled, "I am going to hold a small-scale reception at home tonight. Come on."

"Reception?" Victor hesitated. In his capacity, he participated in a private reception organized by military members for no reason. To be honest, it was a bit inappropriate.

"That's it," Vasilievsky explained. "The cocktail party is not important. The important thing is that someone asked me to invite you."

"Who?" Victor asked curiously.

"Yuri Artievich Dementiev," Vasilievsky laughed.

Victor froze for a moment. He knew that this man was currently serving as a member of the Industrial Committee. Of course, his official position is not very important. What is important is that his wife Albina Dementieva is not simple, um, to be more precise, his brother-in-law is not simple.

The eldest brother-in-law of Yuri Artievich, named Rodyweng Yakovlevich Malinovsky, is currently the commander of the Southern Front and the rank of general.

Looking at Vasilievsky with a puzzled look, Viktor couldn't understand what the Dementiev couple asked him to do.

"That's it," Vasilevsky explained, seeing his doubts, "Yuri's daughter just graduated from Moscow University a year ago. Well, a beautiful girl with a very good temperament and personality."

He said that, then took out an envelope from the chest pocket of the military uniform and handed it to Victor.

Victor took the envelope and took out two photos from it.

"This kid's name is Liang Na," Vasilevsky continued. "What I learned is communication technology..."

"Want to come to the People's Committee of National Security?" Victor was surprised.

Vasilevsky looked at him, suddenly laughed, and said: "No, no, Yuri meant to let you get along and see if you have fate, after all, you don't have a wife yet."

Feelings are a matchmaker for yourself!

Victor laughed, let alone, he had never considered his personal problems.