Rokossovsky frowned after receiving the analysis information reported by Sokov. Seeing this, Malinin on the side quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, what happened? Why did Colonel Sokov's report?
Why would it make you so distressed?"
"Chief of Staff, look at what they reported." Rokossovsky put the telegram in front of Malinin and said to him: "Misha firmly believes that although the Voronezh Front and the Southwest Front are on the battlefield,
A series of victories were achieved in the war, and the German army was defeated step by step. But in fact, they were in danger, and there was a possibility of a German counterattack later."
"How is this possible, Comrade Commander." Malinen said disapprovingly of the intelligence reported by Sokov: "According to intelligence gathered from various places, our military strength is eight times that of the German army, and our technical equipment is far more than that of the German army.
If the enemy is defeated by the German army under such circumstances, the commander who directed the operation will have no choice but to be sent to a military court."
"I think so too, Comrade Chief of Staff." Rokossovsky agreed with Malinin's statement, but he was also worried and said: "At the beginning of last year, I was injured outside Moscow. It was Misha who
I sent him to the hospital. While he was staying in Moscow, he participated in a meeting to prepare for the Southwestern Front's attack on Kharkov. I heard that at the meeting, he personally pointed out Marshal Timoshenko's mistakes and reminded him
Marshal, I am afraid that the attack on Kharkov will not be successful."
"Ah, I really didn't expect that Colonel Sokov had ever participated in such an important military meeting?" Malinin said in surprise: "Yes, in the later battle summary, Marshal Timoshenko's misjudgment was indeed mentioned. No.
Timely elimination of the enemy in the protrusion that poses the greatest threat to our army allows our army to quickly split the front line when it encounters an enemy counterattack. As a result, the campaign launched by our army ends in failure."
If Rokossovsky had not mentioned that Sokov had participated in the last high-level military meeting, Malinin might still have insisted on his point of view, but at this moment he became a little hesitant: "Comrade Commander, then
What do you think we should do? Are we really going to report this matter to the headquarters of the Supreme Command?"
"This is exactly what I am hesitant about." Rokossovsky said helplessly: "Although I know in my heart that the accuracy of what Misha discovered is very high. But I am worried about reporting it to the public.
After the base camp, I'm afraid I will be reprimanded by my superiors."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Malinin naturally understood the reason why Rokossovsky said this. Now everyone has been optimistic about the battle in the Dnieper River Basin and feels that defeating the German army is only a matter of time. But who will
If you jump out and sing the opposite at this time, you will be scolded or disappeared, and you may even be labeled as a "defeatist". "This matter is really a headache."
"I think it's better to report it through normal channels." After repeated thinking, Rokossovsky made a difficult decision: "Anyway, if the base camp can issue a warning to Vatutin, it would be the best option.
Okay. If they ignore us, there's nothing we can do about it. But at least we did what we should do."
Sokov's analytical intelligence was reported to the General Staff by Malinin through regular channels. The new Chief of General Staff Antonov reported the matter to Stalin.
When Stalin learned about this, he immediately became furious: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, don't you know that our army is launching an attack on Zaporozhye, where Manstein's headquarters is located? And according to Vatutin's report, they only need two people at most.
In three days, we can capture the city and drive the enemy across the Dnieper River.
But at this time, Rokossovsky handed over this irresponsible report, saying that the enemy was about to launch a counterattack against our army, and there was even the possibility of splitting our army's defense line, allowing Vatutin's troops to
Be vigilant."
When Stalin was having an attack, Antonov did not dare to speak. He just lowered his head and listened quietly to every word Stalin said. Suddenly he heard Stalin ask: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, this absurd conclusion is absolutely
It couldn’t have been done by Rokossovsky. Tell me, is it the product of some idiot’s whim?”
"Comrade Stalin!" Hearing Stalin ask himself, Antonov replied cautiously: "It's Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division."
"How can a commander staying at Mamayev Heights judge the enemy's situation thousands of kilometers away?" Stalin sneered and said, "Does he think he is a god?"
"Comrade Stalin, there is one more thing that I did not have time to report to you." Antonov said: "Actually, Colonel Sokov's 41st Guards Division is not at Mamayev Heights now."
"Not at Mamayev Heights?" Stalin asked, "Then where are they?"
"In Luhansk." Antonov replied: "Rokossovsky personally ordered them to be transferred there."
Stalin quickly walked to the wall, looked at the map hanging on it, gestured with his hand to mark the distance, and asked in surprise: "Luhansk is nearly 700 kilometers away from Mamayev Heights. Rokossovs
Why did you ask them to go so far away?"
"It is said that they are worried that the enemy will really launch a counterattack, and Sokov's 41st Guards Division is the best at defense. Putting them there can block the enemy who may rush over."
"The enemy, where is the enemy?" Stalin said disdainfully: "Even if they arrive in Luhansk, they are more than 300 kilometers away from the fighting place. Can they see the enemy?"
"It is said that a few days ago, an enemy attacked Lugansk." Antonov said cautiously: "Fortunately, Colonel Sokov and his guard company were in the city at that time, and they blocked the enemy."
"What, the enemy launched a sneak attack on Luhansk?" Stalin was very surprised. "When did it happen? Why didn't I know at all?"
"Just a few days ago, the German army dispatched more than 400 people and quietly reached the vicinity of Lugansk. Fortunately, Sokov's guard company set up defensive positions there and started fighting with the sneak attack enemies." Antono
The husband reported: "After a fierce battle, fortunately, part of the 122nd Regiment of the 41st Guards Division arrived and successfully eliminated the invading enemy. However, Sokov's guard company also suffered basically all casualties."
"Where are the defenders in Lugansk?" Stalin asked displeasedly: "Why didn't they rush to reinforce Xiaomisha when they were attacked?"
"It is said that as soon as the battle outside the city started, the city's garrison company quietly withdrew without firing a shot."
"This is not a retreat, but an escape." Stalin was angry: "Our comrades fought bravely with the enemy at the front, and the garrison company not only failed to support them, but actually dared to escape without permission. Immediately give an order to Vatutin to put this
The company commander, who was greedy for life and feared death, shot him and sent the company back to Lugansk and handed it over to Sokov's command."
Seeing that Stalin was speaking in favor of Sokov, Antonov cautiously asked: "Comrade Stalin, does Sokov's warning need to be conveyed to Vatutin?"
Stalin, who was holding his pipe in his mouth, took a long drag on the cigarette, shook his head and said, "I don't care anymore. Now our army is attacking Zaporozhye, and we cannot let this kind of unfounded analysis affect the morale of the army."
"
"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Antonov replied respectfully: "I will call Rokossovsky back immediately and convey your message to him."
…………
Sokov, who was far away in Luhansk, had no idea what was happening at the front headquarters and in Moscow.
Asiya, who came with the main force of the division, went to the division headquarters to find Sokov.
As soon as Sidorin saw Asiya walking in, he greeted with a smile: "Asiya, you are here!"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Asiya greeted Sidorin politely, then came to Sokov and said to him: "Misha, I have something to ask you."
Bely, who was talking to Sokov, heard Asiya say that he wanted to see Sokov. He thought they were talking about private matters, so he stood up and prepared to leave. But Asiya stopped him: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander,
You don’t need to go away, Misha and I are talking about business.”
"Business?" Sokov asked in confusion, "What business?"
"Misha, some of the wounded in the battles in the past few days were seriously injured." Asiya frowned and said to him: "With the existing personnel and equipment of our medical team, we are unable to provide them with more serious injuries."
For good treatment, I suggest sending people immediately to send them to the division field hospital in the rear."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov heard Asiya mentioning the division field hospital and quickly asked Sidorin: "Has the work of establishing the current field hospital been completed?"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander, it has been roughly completed." Sidorin asked Sokov for instructions: "Do you think, when will they arrive in Lugansk?"
"Wait a little longer." Sokov waved his hand and said: "The situation here is still unclear, so let them stay in Stalingrad. I will inform them when they will come over."
After saying this, he specifically told Sidorin, "Immediately arrange vehicles to send the wounded back to Stalingrad."
"Okay, Comrade Division Commander." Sidorin nodded quickly and replied, "I will immediately arrange vehicles to evacuate the wounded."
"Asiya," seeing Asiya turning around and leaving, Sokov hurriedly chased after her, lowering his voice and said to her: "You'd better let Ada escort the wounded back, and wait until they reach Mamayev Hill to let her temporarily
Don't come back."
Asiya asked nervously: "Is there going to be another war here?"
"Yes," Sokov nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "If a fight really breaks out, I'm afraid the scale of the battle will be quite large. If Ada still stays here, I'm worried that she will be in danger.
"
"Don't worry, Misha." Asiya assured Sokov: "I will definitely arrange for Ada to escort the wounded back."
Just after Asya left, Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky from the front army headquarters: "Misha, this is Rokossovsky."
"Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov heard Rokossovsky's voice and immediately realized that the other party's call must be related to the analytical intelligence he reported, but he still deliberately pretended to be confused: "
Do you have any instructions?"
"Misha, although I think your analysis is very reasonable." Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment on the other end of the phone: "But now on the battlefield, the situation is very favorable to our army.
It would be unconvincing to inform Vatutin under such circumstances that the enemy might launch a counterattack after they capture Zaporozhye."
Sokov could hear Rokossovsky's helplessness from the tone of his voice. After all, in the eyes of most people, the situation is very good. Any negative remarks may affect the morale of the troops.
and morale must be prohibited. Therefore, he said understandingly: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I understand, and I will not mention this matter again in the future."
"Misha, I wish you could understand my difficulties." Rokossovsky continued: "There is another news to tell you. The Supreme Commander himself has personally ordered that the company commander who took the lead in escaping be shot and killed.
His troops have been sent back to Lugansk and given to you to command. It is up to you to decide how to use this troops."
Before hanging up the phone, Rokossovsky said hesitantly: "Misha, there may be a war in Luhansk, so I will ask you to take care of Ada. I hope she can be reunited with me alive."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov thought that he had asked Asiya to arrange for Ada to return to Mamayev Heights, and there should be no danger there.
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin heard the call between Sokov and Rokossovsky and learned that a company would be sent to Lugansk soon, so he asked Sokov tentatively: "Seryozha
Our guard company is basically exhausted. Do you want to see if this new company can be added to Seryosha's guard company?"
"No, absolutely not." Sokov was furious when he thought that at the height of the battle, this company refused to save them and actually dared to escape without permission: "How can such a unit defeat them?"
What about being incorporated into a guard company? In my opinion, they should be sent to the most dangerous places and let them fight face-to-face with the Germans. Only those who survive are qualified to become candidates for the guard company."
"Moreover," Sokov felt that since his superiors were unwilling to warn him in order not to affect Vatutin's command, he could only provide vigilance and strengthen the defense of the Lugansk area, so he specifically emphasized to Sidorin.
Said: "Send more reconnaissance teams to conduct reconnaissance around them and understand the movements of both the enemy and ourselves in a timely manner. At the same time, each regiment should also do a good job in containing the commanders and fighters who escaped from the west, regardless of their rank or level, have been incorporated into
Our army’s troops.”
"Comrade division commander, if they refuse to accept recruitment, what should we do?"
"Arrest all the officers and leave them to me to deal with." Sokov said with a sneer: "If I come forward and they are still stubborn, I will make them regret it."