Under the leadership of the lieutenant, Sokov came to the Front Command and met Commander General Konev, Military Commissioner Lieutenant General Mechlis and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Zakharov.
After entering the door, Sokov faced the three of them, raised his hand and saluted, and said loudly: "Comrade Commander, Hello, Major General Sokov is ordered to report!"
"General Sokov, we have been waiting for you." The first person to greet Sokov was naturally the commander General Konev. He took the initiative to extend his hand to Sokov and asked with concern: "Is the journey going smoothly?"
Sokov looked at Konev in front of him and found that there was still a big difference in his appearance and photos of later generations. At this moment, he was in the trough of his life. His face was thin and his face was full of melancholy. He was completely different from the round and smooth shape he used to conquer Berlin. He quickly stretched out his hands and held the other party's hand, saying respectfully: "Thank you for your concern for Comrade Commander. The day after we set off, we met a German sniper on the road and sacrificed several soldiers. But the enemy sniper was also wiped out by us."
Then he greeted Sokov. Looking at the general with a round face in front of him, with his eyes narrowed into a line when he smiled, Sokov couldn't believe that this was Mekov, known as the "King of Small Reports". He thought to himself that the other party had reported Rokosovsky's style to Stalin, but encountered a big and small soft nail, and he didn't know if the other party had made a small report at this moment.
Although Sokov took the initiative to ask to come to the Grassland Front, just to follow Konev's potential stock to make achievements, he did not expect to meet Mehlis here. His reputation in the army was not good. Due to his blind command, the Soviet army lost 500,000 troops in a week. But out of politeness, Sokov shook hands with the other party and greeted him politely: "Hello, comrade of military committee, I am very happy to know you."
Chief of Staff Zakharov and others said hello to Sokov and the other two commanders, stepped forward and gave him a bear hug. He slapped Sokov on the back with his hands and said with a smile: "Sokov, you are really not simple. At the beginning of the counterattack under Moscow, you were just a corporal, and now you have become a general."
"Hello General Zakharov." Sokov met an acquaintance here and said excitedly: "Since I escorted Rokosovsky back to Moscow to treat my injuries at the beginning of last year, we haven't met for a year. Are you okay?"
Seeing the doubts on the faces of Konev and others, Zakharov quickly explained to them: "I knew General Sokov when I was the deputy commander of the 16th Army. He was the company commander of the Istria Company at that time."
After Zaharov explained, Konev's face immediately showed an expression of sudden enlightenment. However, Mehlis nodded without moving.
"General Sokov!" After the simple greetings, Konev officially announced his appointment to Sokov: "According to the instructions of the Supreme Command Base, a commander with rich war experience and rich combat training and organizational experience should be appointed as the commander of the group army. Now, I formally appoint you as the commander of the 27th Group Army. General Sokov, I congratulate you."
"Thank you, Comrade Commander of the Front Army."
After Mekhlis and Zakharov shook hands with Sokov one by one and congratulated him, Konev continued: "General Sokov, next I will introduce you to the mission of your army. Please come here to the map."
When Sokov stood in front of the map, Konev continued: "Your army is now stationed in the Kosky area. Your mission is to seize the time to build solid national defense fortifications to prevent possible attacks by the German army."
Sokov looked at the location of the Kosky area, which was located north of Kastornoy, with forests, swamps and lakes everywhere. The Germans had no ability to reach this location. If they were really following Konev's orders to build solid and complete fortifications in this area, they would not be defrauded of money and would not be used at all.
After Konev introduced the situation, he waited for a moment. Seeing that Sokov didn't speak, he automatically asked, "How is it, General Sokov, do you have anything to say?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Since Konev asked himself to express his opinion, Sokov naturally would not miss this good opportunity. He quickly said: "I think what I have to do after taking office is to complete the combat training and political education specially formulated by the Front Army smoothly and with high quality. As for national defense fortifications, I don't think it is necessary to build them."
Sokov's deterioration was shocking, and Konev's face became solemn: "General Sokov, don't you know that the Hitlers have a large number of new tanks and self-propelled artillery. If we do not have strong fortifications, it is impossible to stop them."
"Comrade Commander of the Front, you are right." Sokov agreed with Konev's statement: "Based on my experience in fighting with the Germans, facing enemies equipped with a large number of new tanks and self-propelled artillery, without solid fortifications, they cannot be stopped at all."
"Since you understand this." Seeing that Sokov agreed with his statement, Sokov's anger slightly restrained: "Why do you still make absurd suggestions for not repairing fortifications?"
"Because I feel that the enemy has no ability to reach the defense zone of our army." Sokov replied in a humble manner: "Therefore there is no need to build such fortifications."
Hearing Sokov say this, Konev couldn't help but sneer: "General Sokov, do you think the German army can't reach your defense zone, so they can't arrive?"
"Comrade Commander," at this moment, Mehlis spoke unexpectedly: "I think General Sokov makes sense. We must believe in our friendly forces, and they can definitely defend their positions and prevent the enemy from getting closer to Moscow. Our troops are now located in the east of Moscow. I believe that even if there are no fortifications, we don't have to worry about the enemy's attack."
If someone else said this, maybe Konev would think about it. But Mehlis, who spoke, was an amateur who did not understand military affairs, but liked to command blindly. Even due to his mistakes, the Soviet army lost 500,000 troops within a week and lost the Kerch Peninsula.
Konev glanced at Mechlis and said expressionlessly: "Comrade Military Commissioner, as the commander of the Front Army, I will strictly implement the orders of the base camp and build national defense fortifications that may fight against the German attack in the existing area. You must not do anything by chance. Just imagine, if we did not build any fortifications in the defense zone, but the enemy broke through the defense of friendly forces and rushed to us, how can we block them at that time?"
After saying this, Konev turned to Sokov and ordered him in a stern tone: "General Sokov, as a commander, don't you know that your superiors' orders can only be executed and are not allowed to be discussed? After you return to the army, you will immediately start the construction of national defense fortifications. Do you understand?"
Chapter completed!