Shortly after the arrogant general left, Sokov returned to the division headquarters and received a call from Chuikov.
"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov asked on the phone, "I heard that you had a conflict with the commander of the First Guards Rifle Corps. Is this true?"
"Yes, there was some quarrel." Sokov asked: "Comrade Commander, how did you know?"
"You don't know, right? He made a small report to his superiors as soon as he returned, saying that you disrespected him, had no leadership, and were lawless... In short, he felt that you were not suitable to command the neighboring troops.
As a member of the Communist Party of China, I suggest that your superiors remove you from your position."
"Superior?" Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask which superior he complained to. Is it the Front Army Headquarters?"
"You are mistaken. This Guards does not belong to our Don River Front Army, nor does it belong to the Southwest Front Army." Chuikov said seriously on the other end of the phone: "It belongs to the base camp reserve team. He is reporting to Chief of General Staff Vasil Lieutenant
It was reported by Rokossovsky. Fortunately, Comrade Chief of General Staff knew about you, so he suppressed the matter and reported it to Commander Rokossovsky."
"What is the attitude of Comrade Commander of the Front Army?"
"He thinks you did the right thing." Chuikov said firmly: "Your division is a special unit and not just anyone can command it directly. I think if the unit is always under your command, it can still obtain
Huge results. But if it is handed over to the command of some people who don’t know what it means, I’m afraid something bad will happen.”
Sokov understood from Chuikov's words that neither Rokossovsky nor Chuikov agreed with his actions today, so he said gratefully: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander."
"Don't thank me, Colonel Sokov." Chuikov said with a smile: "If your division hadn't fought tenaciously with the enemy in Lugansk, I'm afraid the city would have fallen into their hands long ago. Then the Sixth Division who is attacking
If the Army Group and Popov assemble quickly, they will suffer a devastating blow.
You don’t have to worry about this. With Rokossovsky and me supporting you, you will be fine. As long as you do your job and hold Lugansk firmly, you don’t need to worry about the rest.
Already."
Before Chuikov was about to hang up the phone, he remembered another important thing: "By the way, I have another important thing. I almost forgot to tell you."
Sokov heard the joy in Chuikov's tone, so he guessed it was a good thing, and quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me what a good thing it is?"
"This is indeed a great thing for the officers and soldiers of your division." Chuikov said excitedly: "I heard from Commander Rokossovsky that the superiors may want to promote your division to the first rank.
In other words, after this order is issued, Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin will become a colonel, and you and Colonel Bely will become generals!"
"Comrade Commander, thank you so much." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that he would soon be promoted to general. He quickly said into the microphone: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division, thank you."
"No, not everyone is promoted to military rank." Chuikov said thoughtfully: "The recruits and guerrillas who were recently incorporated into your division will not participate in this promotion."
Sokov thought about it and realized that this was really the case. Since the two brothers Mikhiga and Vovka led the guerrillas to join his team, one was awarded the rank of major, and the other was also awarded the rank of captain, which was higher than the original ones in the division.
Most of the commanders are of high rank, so I'm afraid everyone has always had opinions in their hearts, but they just haven't said it out loud.
After finishing the call with Chuikov, Sokov said to Sidorin and others with a smile: "Comrades, commanders, I want to tell you some good news. Commander Chuikov told me that the superiors wanted to commend our division for its meritorious service.
, plans to promote most of the commanders and fighters to first-level military ranks. In other words, in a while, Chief of Staff Sidorin and Political Commissar Anisimov will be promoted to the rank of colonel. And Colonel Bely will also become
Major General Bely."
It is naturally a happy thing to be promoted to a military rank. Xidorin and others couldn't help but smile after hearing this.
After a while, Sidorin suddenly remembered that Sokov had offended the commander of the friendly army, and asked worriedly: "Comrade division commander, did Comrade Commander tell you what the superiors planned after the conflict between you and the commander?"
Deal with you?"
"The First Guards Infantry Corps is the reserve force of the base camp." Sokov said carelessly: "Although his military rank is higher than mine, he has no right to recruit my troops. They are deployed to the northeast of us.
, is to prevent the enemy from occupying Lugansk, so that they can counterattack the enemy who is not yet firmly established."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin asked cautiously: "How many days do you think we have left?"
Outsiders would definitely be confused when they heard Sidorin say this, but both Bely and Anisimov understood that Chief of Staff Sidorin was asking the Sixth Army and Popov to quickly assemble under the siege of the enemy.
, and can still support it for several days.
Sokov thought for a while, then stretched out three fingers and said with a serious expression: "To be more pessimistic, they can only support it for three days at most, and they will be completely defeated by the Germans."
"What, it can only last for three days?" Anisimov asked in surprise: "What about the best case scenario? How long can it last?"
"Even if they are lucky and can withstand the German onslaught, with the interruption of supplies, they will not be able to support the enemy's siege for less than a week."
"Since the friendly forces will be defeated so soon, should we start making preparations?" Bely asked tentatively.
"Yes, we should make preparations." Although what they said sounded like riddles to outsiders, they knew what they meant. Sokov agreed with the plan proposed by Bely and said to him
: "I think we can deploy a company of troops in the southwest of the city to accommodate the retreating troops there."
"You won't make a mistake by taking in friendly stragglers, right?" Anisimov asked worriedly.
"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said carelessly: "Only by taking in all the stragglers can we reorganize them into a new force with combat effectiveness in a short period of time."
"Comrade Political Commissar, don't worry." Sidorin saw what Anisimov was worried about, and comforted him and said: "If we can really use these defeated commanders and fighters to form a capable force in a short period of time,
As a combat-effective unit, the superiors may promote our Guards Division to the Guards Corps."
At this point, Sidorin glanced at Sokov and said meaningfully: "The division commander will then be able to become the army commander and be on an equal footing with today's army commander."