Vasilevsky said to Sokov in an encouraging tone: "Comrade Major, just repeat what you just said to me to General Bagramyan."
Sokov, who was encouraged by Vasilevsky, quickly picked up the explanation stick and explained his point of view again. He also specially emphasized the importance of Barvinkovo and repeatedly reminded Bagramyan: "Minister of Operations."
Comrade, since our army cannot capture Barvinkovo quickly after the battle begins, the enemy may gather heavy troops in this area and launch a surprise attack on the Southern Front..."
Since Sokov's attention was focused on Bagramyan, he did not notice when Shaposhnikov and Timoshenko returned to the rostrum. Shaposhnikov expected
Sokov, who was talking eloquently, turned to Timoshenko and asked: "Comrade Marshal, is this major from your front army?"
"No, at least not yet." Timoshenko shook his head and said: "His surname is Sokov. He currently belongs to the 16th Army of the Western Front and is a subordinate of Zhukov and Rokossovsky."
"Oh, he is Sokov?" Shaposhnikov had obviously heard of Sokov, so when Timoshenko said this, he immediately asked with interest: "He is Mikhail
Ivanovich’s son?”
"Yes, that's him." Timoshenko nodded and said in a positive tone: "I heard from Zhukov that he is very good at commanding battles. Two days ago, Ustinov also recommended him to me.
That’s why I asked him to attend this meeting.”
"Old Misha was a very good commander, but it was a pity that he died too early." Shaposhnikov shook his head and said with regret: "This young man looked good, but unfortunately he was a little short-sighted, and he was right.
This kind of comment on the battle of a large corps. In my opinion, he is at best a battalion commander material."
"You are very reasonable, Boris Mikhailovich!" Timoshenko quickly agreed: "My troops once launched an attack on Barvinkovo, but unfortunately it ended in failure. Waiting for Kharkov
After the offensive campaign begins, even if our army cannot occupy Barvinkovo in a short time, I think it is impossible for the Germans to launch a counterattack from here."
Shaposhnikov raised his hand to look at his watch and said to Timoshenko: "It's almost time. Let's get ready for the meeting."
After Sokov finished expressing his views to Bagramyan, he accidentally discovered that the two marshals were standing not far from him. He quickly raised his hands to his forehead and said in a panic: "Hello, Comrade Marshals.
them!"
Shaposhnikov nodded at him, and then said calmly: "Okay, Major Sokov, you have finished what you want to say. We are going to have a meeting soon, so you should go back to your seat as soon as possible."
After the meeting resumed, Bagramyan continued to speak on behalf of Timoshenko: "...According to the intelligence we have obtained, the German army's summer offensive is still in Moscow, and they will also launch a secondary offensive in the south to contain it.
Our vitality.
After analysis, after the winter campaign, the German army's strength south of Moscow was insufficient. Therefore, we used the Bryansk Front Army, the Southwest Front Army and the Southern Front Army in this direction to launch a comprehensive attack on them and crush the enemy in Moscow.
Defense in the south, eliminate all German troops east of the Dnieper River..."
After talking about the combat intentions, Bagramyan looked at the corner where Sokov was and continued: "I just heard a statement during the meeting. Some people thought that after we launched the Kharkov offensive campaign,
The Germans will gather heavy troops in the Barvinkovo area and launch a sudden attack on the Southern Front troops. After defeating the friendly troops, they will then attack the flanks of our Southwest Front Army, thereby achieving the goal of cutting off and encircling our army. I am here, thinking
Tell the person who said this that your inference is absurd and unrealistic."
Bagramyan's words immediately caused an uproar. The commanders at the meeting looked around and asked: "Who is it? Who made such a ridiculous conclusion?"
Hearing Bagramyan criticize him in public, Sokov, who was sitting in the last row, was completely ashamed. If there was a crack in the ground, he would have wanted to get into it immediately. It was so embarrassing.
Fortunately, before the commanders present could figure out who had said the words that made Bagramyan unhappy, Vasilevsky stood up to smooth things over: "Comrade Bagramyan, you can't say that. After all, we
The offensive campaign to be launched involves hundreds of thousands of troops from three fronts, so there is no harm in being cautious."
The meeting lasted until one o'clock at noon. Seeing that no one asked any more questions, Timoshenko announced the adjournment of the meeting.
When Timoshenko announced that the meeting was adjourned, everyone present at the meeting stood up and left the venue. Sokov also stood up and walked out with the crowd. As soon as he walked out of the door, a captain stopped him: "Excuse me
Major Sokov?"
"Yes, I am Sokov." Sokov looked at the unfamiliar captain and asked with some confusion: "What do you want to see me for?"
"I'm not looking for you." The captain said politely, "It's General Vasilevsky who wants to talk to you."
Knowing that Vasilevsky wanted to talk to him, Sokov secretly thought that maybe some of his views coincided with his assumptions, so he wanted to talk to him privately. In order not to affect those
The commander, Sokov and the captain came out and stood by the wall to make way for them.
After the people attending the meeting were almost gone, the captain led Sokov to the door of Vasilevsky's office. He raised his hand and knocked on the door twice. Without waiting for a conversation, he opened the door and left.
He went in and closed the door. Not long after, the captain opened the door and walked out. He stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation to the room: "Please, Comrade Major, the deputy chief of staff is here."
Waiting for you."
When Sokov walked into the room, the first thing he saw was a long conference table. At the end of the conference table was a horizontal desk, with Deputy Chief of General Staff Vasilevsky sitting behind the table.
Sokov quickly walked around the conference table, quickly came to Vasilevsky, raised his hand to salute him, and said: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, Commander of the Istrian Battalion Sokov
The major has been ordered to report to you and ask for your instructions!"
"Major Sokov, you are here!" Vasilevsky pointed to the empty chair next to the conference table and said with a smile: "Stop standing, please sit down!"
After Sokov sat down, Vasilevsky said: "Comrade Major, I have something to inform you. Since you attended this important military meeting, in order to prevent leaks, you may have to stay in Moscow for a while.
, at the same time, the Istria battalion under your command will also be transferred from the Western Front to the Southwest Front participating in the Kharkov offensive campaign."
Although Sokov had already guessed in his mind that his troops would most likely participate in this offensive battle, when he actually heard Vasilevsky say this, he still had a wry smile on his face.
"We all see the achievements of the troops under your command in the past few months." Vasilevsky continued: "The headquarters of the Supreme Command will soon replenish the Southwest Front Army, like East
Troops like Laying with combat experience and outstanding achievements must be added to the main attack force... I hope that in this battle, your battalion can achieve more brilliant achievements."
Regarding Vasilevsky's expectations, Sokov really couldn't laugh or cry. Because he clearly remembered that the German casualties in this battle were only more than 20,000, while the Soviet army killed nearly 80,000 and captured 240,000. How could his own troops be able to
After all, there is only one battalion of troops. In the fight between nearly a million troops on both sides, it is estimated that they will not be able to make a splash. Let alone meritorious service, it is not easy for me to survive this battle.
things.
The expression on Sokov's face was seen by Vasilevsky. He smiled faintly and then asked: "Comrade Major, don't you have confidence in victory in this offensive battle?"
"No, not at all." After Sokov blurted out his words, he realized that he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected him: "Deputy Chief of General Staff, what I say is not a defeatist argument, but based on the current situation.
We analyze the situation. In the early stages of the battle, our army may be able to achieve some exciting results. But if Barvinkovo is not captured, it will become a nightmare for our army."
Vasilevsky patiently listened to Sokov's words. After being silent for a while, he said: "Major Sokov, actually I have the same view as you. At present, the conditions for our army to launch an offensive in the south of Moscow are not yet mature.
. But there is no way. This is a matter decided by the Supreme Commander himself. We can only formulate this offensive plan of great political significance based on his wishes. Do you understand?"
Sokov had long known in his heart that the Battle of Kharkov was personally arranged by Stalin. What he said to Vasilevsky and Baghramyan at the meeting was nothing more than hoping that his little
A small butterfly can prevent the Soviet army from this unnecessary defeat. But judging from the final effect, no one except Vasilevsky believed in him. Bagramyan even appeared in front of hundreds of commanders.
, criticize oneself without naming names.
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff," Sokov asked tentatively: "Since you know that it is difficult for our offensive to succeed, why not..."
"Why not dissuade the Supreme Commander himself, right?" Vasilevsky said before Sokov could finish: "When Marshal Timoshenko proposed this plan, I raised objections.
Not only me, but also the Chief of General Staff, Marshal Shaposhnikov, and the Commander of the Western Front, General Zhukov, have proposed to the Supreme Commander himself that our army should take a cautious defensive stance in the south of Moscow, which has consumed a large amount of the German army's effective strength.
After that, we launched a counterattack. But our opinion was rejected. Therefore, we can only cooperate with Marshal Timoshenko and others to formulate this attack plan."
"Understood, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff." After confirming that nothing could be changed even if Vasilevsky and Zhukov came forward, Sokov gave up completely. He asked with some frustration: "Allow it?"
Do I leave?"
"Wait a minute, Comrade Major." Vasilevsky stopped him and asked curiously: "I heard that you designed a new type of rocket launcher. Is this true?"
"Yes, there is such a thing." Sokov nodded and replied: "A preliminary test was conducted yesterday. If it goes well, it will probably be put into formal production in March."
Perhaps because of confidentiality, Vasilevsky, even as deputy chief of staff, did not receive a development report on the new rocket launcher. If he wanted to know the situation, he had to ask Sokov, the designer: "I don't know about this rocket launcher."
How powerful is it?”
"The 107 mm caliber rocket launcher I designed is almost as powerful as the rocket launchers we are currently equipped with." If someone asked about the new rocket launcher, Sokov might refuse to answer, but the person asking him the question at this moment was Vasilevsky. Even if
Even if he didn't tell himself, he would soon learn the details, so he said cheerfully: "But its total weight is light, and it can be disassembled and combined quickly. The weight of a single component after disassembly does not exceed 30 kilograms. To satisfy
According to the requirements of the human back, the decomposed part has the following characteristics in terms of structural dimensions: no higher than the neck (easy to look up), no lower than the hips (easy to step), no wider than the shoulders (easy to pass), and the center of gravity is close to the body (to prevent twisting of the waist). If this
As mass production of rocket launchers deteriorates, it will be the most advanced rocket launcher in the world."
When Sokov said these words, he was thinking to himself: Not to mention now, even decades later, this kind of rocket launcher will not be comparable to other rocket launchers. However, after listening to his words, Vasilevsky
, but did not take it seriously. He had seen with his own eyes how powerful the rocket launchers currently equipped by the army were. It would be too early to say that weapons like Sokov, which are still in the development stage, are better than the existing equipment of the army.
Already.
After Vasilevsky and Sokov finished talking about business, he suddenly asked: "Comrade Major, where is your father buried?" Before Sokov could speak, he continued talking to himself, "Back then, your father was buried."
When my father passed away, I happened to be out of town, so I was not able to see him for the last time, which was really a pity."
Vasilevsky's question made Sokov dumbfounded. Since he did not inherit the memory of the previous owner of this body, he was really at a loss when faced with an endless stream of cheap father's old comrades. He was in a dilemma.
At this moment, the phone on the table rang. Vasilevsky picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then stood up from his seat, straightened his back and said: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I will be in your office right away.
"
After he put down the phone, he said to Sokov apologetically: "Comrade Major, I originally wanted to chat with you for a while, but Comrade Chief of General Staff came to me with something urgent, so we can only chat another day." After that, he took the initiative to talk to you.