Due to Sokov's current injury, it was impossible to go to the Red Square to watch the military parade on October Day. Soon after Lunev returned, he ordered someone to send a small radio so that Sokov could lie down
I listened to the entire military parade from my hospital bed.
When the big bell of the Spassk Bell Tower strikes ten times, the Oktoberfest celebrations officially begin.
The person who presided over the celebration ceremony was Alexander Sergeyevich Shcherbakov, the first secretary of the Moscow Region and City WEI. When he stood on Lenin's tomb and announced the start of the celebration, the military band on the square began to play.
The commander-in-chief of the military parade was Voroshilov, a marshal with a background of cavalry. He and an adjutant rode a black horse and galloped out of the gate of the palace wall behind Lenin's Mausoleum. When they stopped in front of Lenin's Mausoleum, they also
The commander of the reference force, accompanied by an adjutant, was already stationed there waiting for him.
After the two groups merged into one, Voroshilov was in front, followed by the commander and two adjutants, and rode along the neatly formed phalanx.
After advancing for a certain distance, Voroshilov tightened his reins and shouted to the commanders and soldiers in the queue: "Comrades, I wish you a happy October Day!"
"Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union!" the commanders and soldiers in the queue shouted in unison: "I wish you a happy October Day!"
After completing this step, Voroshilov continued to ride his horse forward. After advancing a few dozen meters, he stopped again and repeated the steps just now.
After inspecting the troops, Voroshilov returned to Lenin's Mausoleum, dismounted, climbed up the side stairs to Lenin's Mausoleum, and reported to Stalin, who was already waiting here.
Then, Stalin began to speak. His speech was very simple, stating the results achieved by the Soviet army in the past year, how many invaders were eliminated, and how much land was liberated. He even mentioned that on July 9, 1943,
Moscow, which had sounded the air raid sirens 141 times, finally experienced peace once again in the city after experiencing the last siren.
Asiya, who was sitting beside the hospital bed listening to the celebration with Sokov, couldn't help but ask at this moment: "Misha, does Comrade Stalin say this, does it mean that the Germans will no longer be able to approach Moscow?"
"This is natural." Sokov, who knew the entire historical process, said confidently: "Maybe in more than a year, it will be the Germans' turn to worry about whether their capital Berlin will be threatened by us."
Hearing what Sokov said, Asia was a little surprised and asked: "Misha, you mean we can defeat the Germans in more than a year?"
"Although this is just my guess, the possibility of it becoming a reality is still very high."
"I believe what you said," Asia nodded and said, "your judgment has always been very accurate."
"It's a pity that the troops of General Rokossovsky and General Vatutin were not able to liberate Kiev before October Day." Sokov knew that the purpose of the Soviet army launching the Kiev Campaign in early October was to liberate the Ukrainian capital.
, as a tribute to October Festival. However, the resistance of the German army was stronger than expected. Although the Soviet army tried its best, they still failed to occupy this city across both sides of the Dnieper River in early November.
"Yes, it's such a pity." Asiya also said with emotion: "If we can really liberate this city before October Festival, we will definitely celebrate with a salute on Red Square."
After Stalin's speech ended, the military parade began.
The military band played the national anthem and walked at the front of all the troops being paraded.
Sokov felt a little disappointed when he heard that the Internationale was still played. As far as he knew, the song composed by Alexandrov had been selected as the new national anthem of the Soviet Union, but for some reason, it was not included here.
Performed during the military parade.
Although there is no need to worry about being attacked by German air raids during the celebrations, the entire event only lasted forty minutes and ended.
When Asia reluctantly turned off the radio, she still said with lingering meaning: "This celebration is too short. I don't know when it will return to the one or two hours before the war."
"Maybe in one or two years, your wish will come true." Sokov recalled the military parade he had seen on June 24, 1945, with a smile on his face: "At that time, we had already defeated
After defeating the German invaders, it is time to celebrate our victory during the military parade in Red Square."
Not long after, the dean brought several military doctors to check the ward. Maybe they also listened to the October Festival celebrations, and everyone's faces were filled with joy.
"General Sokov," the dean asked with a smile, "how are you feeling today?"
"Very good, better than ever." After Sokov said this, he looked at the dean and asked: "Comrade dean, when can I get out of bed and walk around?"
"Don't be anxious, General Sokov." The dean said, "After your leg bones have grown, you can get out of bed and try to walk around." After saying this, he turned to a military doctor behind him and asked,
"You checked General Sokov two days ago. Can you tell me how long it will take before he can try to get out of bed and walk around?"
"Comrade Dean, it usually takes at least three or four months for people with broken legs to get out of bed and walk around." The military doctor replied: "But when I examined General Sokov a few days ago, I found that his bones
The recovery speed is faster than we expected. If nothing happens, I will be able to get out of bed and walk around as soon as the 20th of this month."
Hearing what the military doctor said, Asiya, who was standing nearby, exclaimed, then bent down and grabbed Sokov's hand, and said excitedly: "Misha, did you hear that? In less than two weeks,
You can try to get out of bed and walk around."
After the dean waited for Sokov to express his gratitude to him, he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Comrade General, I received a call today saying that an old friend of yours is coming to see you."
Asya, who was originally smiling, heard that the dean said that Sokov's old friends were coming. She immediately thought of the two women living in Sokov's house, and her face suddenly turned as cold as frost.
Sokov noticed the change in Asiya, and couldn't help but trembled in his heart. He could only bite the bullet and said: "Comrade Dean, can you tell me who my old friend is?"
"Comrade General," the dean said with a smile, "he will be here soon. When you see him, you will know who he is."
Although the dean did not say who Sokov's old friend was, Asya couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that the other party was addressed as "him" instead of "she", and the expression on her face changed.
Become softer again.
After the dean and his party left, Asiya even took the initiative to ask Sokov: "Misha, tell me, which of your old friends will come to visit you later?"
"I don't know." Sokov shook his head like a rattle: "I don't have many friends in Moscow. How do I know who will come to visit me later?"
Seeing Asya frowning and seeming to be helping him recall which friends he had in Moscow, Sokov laughed and said to her: "Asya, don't worry about who it is. Wait for him to come later.
, don’t you already know?”
"That's right." Asiya said, turned around and walked to the table, picked up the teapot on the table, shook it gently, and said: "Misha, I'm going to get some water. I'll be back soon.
.”
"Asia, just call Vera for such a small matter." After Sokov said this, he unexpectedly found that Vera was not in the ward, and asked in surprise: "Where has Vera gone?"
"You, you, you are young, but your memory is so bad." Asiya said angrily: "She said last night that she had something to do at home and wanted to take a day off today, and she specifically asked you for leave. You agreed without even thinking about it.
.Why, just after one night, you forgot about this?"
After Asiya's reminder, Sokov felt that this was really the case, so he nodded and said with some embarrassment: "Yes, yes, she did say last night that she would have a day off today, so I kept this in mind."
forgotten."
When Asya went out with the kettle, she closed the door. Sokov stared at the ceiling for a while, feeling bored, so he closed his eyes to meditate.
Not long after I closed my eyes, I heard someone knocking on the door, and then a familiar voice came: "Is General Sokov in this ward?"
"Who is it?" Sokov hurriedly opened his eyes and said in the direction of the door: "The door is not closed, please just open the door and come in."
The door opened, and a middle-aged officer wearing a brand new uniform walked in from the outside.
After he entered the room, he quickly came to Sokov's window and asked with a smile: "General Sokov, do you still remember me?"
When this person came in, Sokov felt that he looked familiar, but for a while he couldn't remember where he had seen him. When he heard his voice, it immediately matched an image in his memory, and he pointed at him.
, exclaimed: "It turns out to be you, General Ponejelin!"
"Yes, I am Ponedelin, but I am not a general now." Ponedelin was recognized and asked Sokov with a smile on his face: "Can I sit down?"
"Of course, of course, please sit down." After Sokov asked the other party to sit down, he looked at the rank of major on the other party's shoulder straps and asked in confusion: "General Ponedelin, why are you wearing a major's uniform?"
"
Ponedelin was originally the commander of the 12th Army of the Soviet Army. He was captured shortly after the war broke out and was later rescued by Sokov's men. He stayed at the headquarters of the 27th Army for a short time and was then captured.
Take him back to Moscow and undergo interrogation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Seeing the other person sitting arrogantly in front of him at this moment, Sokov knew that he had passed the review of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so he took the initiative to extend his hand and said friendly: "General Ponedelin, congratulations on passing the screening of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and returning to the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
In the middle of the army." At this point, he paused intentionally for a moment, and carefully looked at Ponejelin's epaulettes again. It was indeed the rank of major: "You haven't answered me yet, why are you wearing the uniform of a major?"
Ponyjelin smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, I did pass the screening and review of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but because I was once captured by the Germans, I will definitely no longer be able to enjoy the benefits of my original military rank, so I was demoted to major.
.”
After listening to Ponedelin's explanation, Sokov was not surprised at all. He clearly remembered Marshal Kulik's failure in commanding the Kerch Peninsula, which resulted in the loss of the entire Crimea except Sevastopol.
Stalin directly stripped him of the rank of marshal and demoted him to private. A month later, he was promoted to major general again.
Sokov didn't care when Ponedelin could become a general again, but was very concerned about his next work arrangements: "General Ponedelin, I wonder how your superiors arrange your work?"
"I was not given any work." Ponedelin smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Now let us stay in Moscow. We cannot leave the city without an order."
Sokov keenly realized that he said "we" rather than me, so he asked with interest: "General Ponedelin, who are your other companions?"
"Of course they are Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov who were rescued with me." Ponedelin explained to Sokov: "They were demoted to majors like me, and now they are
You can’t go anywhere in the hotel designated by your superiors.”
"Since you can't go anywhere, then why are you here today?" Sokov said: "You know, the security here is tight, and not everyone can come in."
"I know." Ponejelin nodded and said, "Marshal Zhukov asked me what I wanted. I told him that I wanted to see you. So he arranged this visit."
Without waiting for Sokov to ask again, he continued: "Originally, after we were released, I wanted to go to the 27th Army, even if I could serve as a staff officer under you. Who knew that someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs told me
I said that you were seriously injured and that the 27th Army is now commanded by Lieutenant General Trofimenko. I also asked if we would insist on working in the 27th Army. I thought that without you, I might not get along well with other commanders.
So he rejected the other party’s request.”
"So that's it." When Sokov heard what Ponedelin said, he immediately understood that the other commander was worried about being unfairly treated by other commanders and wanted to work with him. But now he doesn't even know what he will do after he recovers from his injury.
Where will he be assigned by his superiors, and where will he be able to accept a commander like Ponijelin who has been discriminated against and excluded?
"General Ponedelin," Sokov said to Ponedelin with a wry smile: "As you can see, I am seriously injured now, and I don't know when I will recover. Even if I recover, where will I be assigned to?
Work is still an unknown. Even if I want to help you now, I am unable to do so."
Although Ponedelin had guessed that he might be rejected before he came here to see Sokov, he still felt very disappointed when he heard Sokov's words of rejection with his own ears. He tried his best to express it on his face.
A hint of smile: "I'm sorry, General Sokov, I was too wishful thinking. Maybe my coming today was a mistake. I'm sorry to disturb your rest. I'll leave now."
Sokov remembered that Bagramyan, who served as deputy chief of staff and chief of operations of the Southwest Front, once commented that Ponedelin was the most educated among the group army commanders. He once commanded an infantry division and served in the Leningrad Military District.
Chief of Staff, he once led the Tactical Teaching and Research Section of the Frunze Military Academy. He is well versed in advanced regimental tactics, proficient in military academic issues, and enjoys high prestige in the Southwest Front.
For such a talent, how could he give up so easily? If he continues to serve as the commander of the group army in the future, having such a deputy will increase the combat efficiency exponentially. Seeing Ponijelin getting up to leave, he quickly stopped him