Sokov waited for Asya to close the door, and then asked Lunev bluntly: "Lunev, my guess has become a reality?"
"Misha, you are right." Lunev nodded and said in an affirmative tone: "After the German army launched an attack on Zhitomir, the 38th Army did not hold on for five days, so it had to abandon the city and move toward Zhitomir.
Breakout in the direction of Kiev."
"This is expected." Sokov knew that the two of them came to him for advice today, so he did not talk in circles. "You came to me today, do you want to hear my analysis of the upcoming situation?
"
"That's right, General Sokov." Shtemenko rushed to say this time: "Judging from the current situation, the Germans will soon advance to Kiev. But now that Kiev has just been liberated, various defensive measures are not yet in place.
, I’m afraid it will be difficult to resist the German attack.”
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff," Sokov called Shtemenko's position, and asked: "I wonder what the weather is like in Kiev recently?"
"It's so bad that it rains almost every day, so that when the enemy attacked Zhitomir, we were unable to dispatch the air force to provide necessary air support for the defenders in the city." Shtemenko originally complained.
As soon as I said this, I was stunned.
Seeing Shtemenko in a daze, Lunev asked with concern: "Sergey, what's wrong with you?"
After a while, Shtemenko woke up from his meditation. He looked at Sokov and asked: "General Sokov, when you asked about the weather in Kiev, do you want to tell me that due to the continuous rain in the area,
As the roads become muddy, the speed of the German tanks advancing toward Kiev will be greatly reduced?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded and acknowledged the other party's statement, and then continued: "The muddy road slowed down the advance of the German tanks. As a result, the German attack on Kiev will either
postpone; or we can only rely on pure infantry attack without armored forces."
"If it was only the German infantry that attacked Kiev, I think our troops should still be able to stop them." After Lunev said this, he turned to Shtemenko and asked: "Sergey, what do you think of my statement?
Is it right?"
Shtemenko looked at Lunev and said quietly: "Lunev, don't you know how serious the casualties suffered by the First Ukrainian Front Army in order to capture Kiev? Even if only German infantry attacked the city, I'm afraid the prospect
Not optimistic either.”
"Misha." Hearing what Shtemenko said, Lunev asked Sokov in a panic: "Do you think our troops can defend Kiev?"
Sokov did not immediately answer Lunev's question, but looked at Shtemenko and asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, if I guess correctly, the Supreme Command must be preparing to mobilize reserves to reinforce Kiev?
"
"Yes, there are three armies heading to Kiev now, one of which is a tank army." Regarding Sokov's guess, Shtemenko did not deny it. After all, he came here today to seek advice from Sokov.
, "And after our research, I am afraid that more troops will be mobilized from the reserve team of the headquarters to reinforce Kiev. We must not let the newly liberated city fall into the hands of the Germans again."
"It is foreseeable that Kiev's defense force will be greatly strengthened in the near future." Sokov raised his own question: "But having more troops does not mean that we can defend Kiev. More than two years ago, our army
The force assembled in Kiev was even stronger, but in the end not only the city was lost, but also hundreds of thousands of troops. Aren't you worried that you will repeat the same mistake?"
Sokov's words were a bit harsh. Whether it was Shtemenko or Lunev, their faces turned livid after hearing this. The last battle of Kiev can be said to be the largest battle of annihilation in the history of human warfare, but it made
Regrettably, the Soviet army played the role of the annihilated. This matter was a taboo topic for members of the General Staff, but at this moment Sokov actually spoke out without any scruples.
If the person who said this to Shtemenko was an ordinary commander or even a general, he would have been scolded. But the person who said this now was Sokov, and Shtemenko was here to
Ask him for advice on how to defend Kiev. Naturally, you can't lose your temper casually.
After a long time, Shtemenko tried his best to put a smile on his face: "General Sokov, do you think it is possible for our army to hold Kiev?" After asking this question, he may have asked this question consciously.
Kokov may have scruples and not be able to speak freely, so he quickly added, "You only need to say what you really think. Even if you say it wrong, no one will blame you."
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, I believe that our commanders and fighters will fight bravely and tenaciously no matter how ferocious the enemy is." Sokov said: "But if we want to defend Kiev, we must rely solely on bravery and tenacity.
It’s far from enough, it’s not enough to crush the German army’s plot to retake Kiev.”
"What do you mean?"
"I feel that General Vatutin's ability is not suitable for commanding this Kiev defense battle." Since Shtemenko has stated that no matter what he says, he will not pursue it, Sokov simply tells the truth: "
I think other capable commanders should go to Kiev to command the battle."
"Then who do you think is more suitable?"
"I think General Rokossovsky, the commander of the Belarusian Front, is the most suitable candidate."
"Why?"
Sokov remembered that in real history, Stalin was very angry about Vatutin's defeat in Zhitomir, and personally appointed Rokossovsky as the representative of the base camp to go to the First Ukrainian Front to assist Vatutin.
He took command and told him: "Go to his headquarters and teach him how to fight." He even hinted that if the opponent was unable to hold up the wall, he could take his place if necessary.
It is precisely because of understanding this period of history that Sokov can confidently and boldly express his true thoughts: "The reason why I proposed that Rokossovsky take over the command is because it was his troops who attacked before.
The next step after capturing Kiev should be carefully considered. General Rokossovsky must have expected the German army to launch a counterattack against Kiev, and he will naturally have a way to deal with it."
"I think what Misha said makes sense." After Sokov finished speaking, Lunev immediately echoed: "Before the war, the Ninth Mechanized Army commanded by General Rokossovsky was stationed in the day care
Mir, he is quite familiar with that city and the surrounding area. If the attack plan drawn up by him is definitely more reasonable than General Vatutin’s plan.”
Seeing Shtemenko's delay in speaking, Sokov couldn't help but asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, am I right?"
"General Sokov, I have to say that your proposal is very, very, very bold." Regarding the plan proposed by Sokov, Shtemenko used three "very"s in one breath to represent his shock: "
But I think it is simply impossible to put your proposal into practice."
"Sergey," Lunev couldn't help but asked curiously: "Why is this?"
"In any case, Vatutin is the commander of the front army." Shtemenko explained to the two men: "If you want to change the commander of the front army on a front, unless the supreme commander himself nods, even the supreme command cannot change the commander of the front army."
He is dismissed from office."
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you misunderstood me." Seeing Shtemenko's misunderstanding of his words, Sokov quickly explained to him: "General Rokossovsky will take over Ukraine
The command of the First Front does not mean that General Vatutin should be removed from his post."
Sokov's words confused Shtemenko: "General Sokov, Rokossovsky is the commander of the Belarusian Front, how can he take over the command of the 1st Ukrainian Front? It's so ridiculous!"
"There is a compromise method, which is to let General Rokossovsky serve as the representative of the base camp and go to the First Ukrainian Front to coordinate and command the operation." The confident Sokov said with a smile: "I believe that as long as Rokossovsky can
If General Vsky goes to Kiev, then the situation will soon develop in a direction that is beneficial to our army."
"I need to go back and report to Comrade Antonov about your proposal." For such a major matter, even if Shtemenko is the deputy chief of staff and chief of operations, he cannot make any decision and can only reply tactfully.
Kove: "Whether it works out or not, I'm very grateful for the advice you gave me."
After Shtemenko came out of the hospital, he couldn't wait to return to the General Staff Headquarters, intending to report Sokov's proposal to Antonov.
But when he returned to the General Staff Headquarters, Antonov was not found. After asking someone, it turned out that he had gone to see Stalin and had not returned yet. Antonov had no choice but to go back to his office and wait.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to the office, First Deputy Chief of General Staff Ivanov appeared.
After greeting Shtemenko, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Shtemenko, I heard that you went to the hospital to see General Sokov?"
"Yes, I was ordered to go."
"What did he tell you?"
If the person who asked the question was Antonov, Shtemenko would truthfully report Sokov's words to him. Although the person who asked the question now was the First Deputy Chief of General Staff, he was not one of Stalin's
A person to be seen. Although he entered the General Staff in 1936, he was kicked out of the General Staff by Stalin and demoted in rank due to his mistakes. In 1942, due to lack of staff personnel, he was transferred back to the General Staff as a military officer.
The Deputy Chief of General Staff was almost driven away after being discovered by Stalin. Fortunately, Vasilevsky and others interceded for him, and Stalin agreed to be generous and let him stay in the General Staff, but the prerequisite was that he would never
Can't appear in front of myself.
Therefore, in response to his question, Shtemenko could only reply in an official tone: "I'm sorry, General Ivanov, the content of the meeting with General Sokov is confidential, and I can only report to Comrade Antonov alone.
"
Seeing that Shtemenko was unwilling to tell him the truth, Ivanov showed an embarrassed expression on his face. Even though he was second only to Antonov in the General Staff, because he had offended Stalin,
Most people kept a distance from him, and except for work contacts, he had no friends at all.
Ivanov knew that there would be no results if he continued to ask, so he chatted for a few words and then got up and left.
After seeing off Ivanov, Shtemenko called for a new battle report and began to study the situation in Kiev and which direction it would develop.
By evening, Antonov finally returned from the Kremlin.
As soon as he returned to his office, Antonov picked up the phone on the desk and dialed Shtemenko's office: "Comrade Shtemenko, are you back?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of General Staff. I have been back for more than two hours."
"Anything gained from your conversation with General Sokov?"
Shtemenko hesitated for a moment, feeling that Sokov's proposal was too bold. It was inconvenient to talk about this kind of thing on the phone, so it would be more appropriate to report it to Antonov in person. Thinking of this, he said to the topic;
"Comrade Chief of General Staff, I would like to report this matter to you in person, is that okay?"
"Okay." Antonov said, "I'm in my office. You can come directly."
Soon, Shtemenko appeared in Antonov's office.
He closed the door and walked quickly to Antonov's desk.
Antonov raised his head, glanced at Shtemenko, and pointed to the empty chair opposite: "Please sit down, Comrade Shtemenko, I think you must have brought me amazing news."
"Yes, General Sokov made a very bold suggestion when he was talking to me."
"What advice?"
Shtemenko knew that this matter was of great importance. In order to avoid leaking the news, he deliberately closed the door when he entered so that he could speak freely: "He said that although the German army had gained a temporary advantage, the road became muddy due to constant rain.
This prevented the German tanks from advancing to Kiev quickly. In this case, the Germans had only two options, one was to delay the attack; the other was to abandon the armored forces and simply use infantry to attack Kiev."
"His speculation coincides with my assumption." After Antonov finished speaking, he continued to ask: "Besides, what else did he say?"
"He said that if you want to hold Kiev, you must change the commander." After Shtemenko took a deep breath, he mustered up the courage to say: "He felt that if General Vatutin continued to be commanded, Kiev might be lost.
"
Hearing what Shtemenko said, Antonov's eyes flashed with shock, but he quickly calmed down his emotions and pretended to be nonchalant and asked: "Then who does he think should replace Vatutin?"
Where is the general?"
"General Rokossovsky." Shtemenko said with a wry smile: "He suggested that General Rokossovsky be used as the representative of the base camp, but he went to Kiev to assist Vatutin in commanding operations."
Unexpectedly, when Antonov heard this, he stood up from his seat suddenly, looked at Shtemenko, and asked in shock: "Comrade Shtemenko, did General Sokov really do this to you?"
Said?"
"That's right, that's what he said." Shtemenko was afraid that Antonov wouldn't believe what he said, so he even brought up Lunev: "If you don't believe it, you can call Lunev here and ask him.
When I asked, he heard it at the time."
"Incredible, simply incredible." Antonov shook his head and said, "This Sokov is not simple at all."