As the May Day celebrations were approaching, not only Marshal Konev could not be contacted, but also Rokossovsky could not be contacted, because Stalin informed senior commanders on all fronts to return to Moscow to participate in the grand military parade.
Rokossovsky, like Marshal Konev, returned to Moscow.
Since he couldn't find the two of them, Sokov couldn't help but fall into confusion. Who will his subordinates be in the future? What he really wanted in his heart was that he hoped to become a member of the 1st Belarusian Front Army, because this unit
Zhukov would take over a few months later and become the first force to storm Berlin.
Seeing that Sokov was silent, Ponyederin asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, many of the students from the Frunze Military Academy now hold the positions of regimental commander, deputy regimental commander, and chief of staff, let me
Will they agree to follow you to the new unit?"
Perhaps worried that Sokov didn't understand what he meant, he specifically added: "For example, Colonel Muzichenko, I thought he would follow you without hesitation when he heard that you were going to the new army. Who knew he would
But made the opposite decision..."
Seeing the angry look on Ponedelin's face, Sokov quickly comforted him and said: "General Ponedelin, everyone has his own ambitions. Since Colonel Muzychenko chose to stay, we should also respect his choice.
"
Sokov thought that there were still a few weeks before he left, so he should identify the people who were willing to leave with him, lest anyone regret before leaving and make everything messy.
"General Ponedelin," Sokov said to Ponedelin: "When we were at the Frunze Military Academy, you and Kirillov were both members of the advisory group and knew the situation of the students very well.
I want you to contact all the students in the past two days to see who is willing to go to the new unit with me and who is willing to stay, so that I can have some idea."
"Comrade Commander, I think there is no need to ask, right?" Ponejelin said disapprovingly: "Based on my understanding of the students, they should all be willing to follow you to the new unit."
"We have no way of knowing what people are thinking in their hearts because they are separated from each other." Sokov continued: "I think it would be better to ask, in case someone feels that they can have a better career if they stay in the current army.
If we want to develop, then we shouldn’t delay others’ futures and let them stay.”
After Ponedelin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he looked into his eyes and said: "Comrade Commander, since you said so, I will go and ask to see if there is anyone who wants to stay."
"If you are too busy alone, you can ask Colonel Kirillov to help you work together." Sokov said: "Anyway, the two of you will be relieved of your duties as division commanders soon, so hurry up and finish your work.
Hand it over to the deputy division commander or chief of staff, and then focus on talking to those students."
What happened next proved Sokov's fears were correct.
After Ponedelin and Kirillov talked with all the trainees, five trainees expressed that they were satisfied with their current positions and were unwilling to follow Sokov to the new army. For such people, Sokov
Cov is not angry either, it’s easy to get together and part ways, there’s no need to force it.
By May 4, Konev finally returned from Moscow.
As soon as he returned to the headquarters, he asked Zakharov to call Sokov and asked him to come to the front headquarters immediately as he had important things to explain.
After receiving Zakharov's call, Sokov did not dare to neglect and immediately drove to the location of the front army headquarters.
"Comrade Sokov," Konev saw Sokov walking into the headquarters. He immediately came up to him, shook hands with him, and asked politely: "Have you had a smooth journey?"
"Smooth, very smooth!" Sokov nodded and said: "Now the places where we fought are basically controlled by our army. The German stragglers have been eliminated long ago, so it is very safe along the way."
"That's good, that's good!" After Konev asked Sokov to sit down, he continued: "I want to tell you some bad news. General Vatutin died!"
"Ah, General Vatutin died?!" Sokov couldn't help but be secretly surprised when he heard what Konev said. He clearly remembered that in real history, Vatutin's wound was infected after surgery, and the doctor wanted to use it on him.
Penicillin was used to reduce inflammation, but Stalin was not given permission for a long time, which eventually led to his death due to wound infection.
When Sokov was hospitalized in the underground hospital in Lubyanka, he used penicillin many times and told the doctors with facts that this newly launched anti-inflammatory drug was completely reliable. He originally thought that he had his own guinea pig.
If it existed, Stalin would agree to use penicillin on Vatutin whose wound was infected. But now it seems that he was too idealistic.
However, out of caution, he decided to find out the real cause of Vatutin's death first: "Comrade Marshal, I heard that General Vatutin's injury has improved and he may be discharged from the hospital at any time. How come he died suddenly in the blink of an eye?"
Where is it?"
Konev sighed and said: "Yes, I also heard that Vatutin's injury has improved, and I am still happy for him. I thought he would be able to come back to command the 1st Ukrainian Front again soon, but I didn't expect this time
I went to Moscow and unexpectedly heard the bad news about him. According to the hospital, he died due to wound infection."
"Wound infection?!" Sokov said in surprise: "Comrade Marshal, General Vatutin was injured in February, and the injury was not too serious. How come he died of wound infection after two months of treatment?
?”
But Konev obviously didn't want to talk about this anymore, so he waved his hand to Sokov and said: "General Vatutin has died. As for why his wound was infected, that is the doctor's business and has nothing to do with us.
I called you here today because of your new position."
Sokov looked at Konev and asked with some confusion: "For my new position? Didn't the Supreme Command appoint me as the commander of the 47th Group Army? Has this appointment changed again?"
"No, no." Konev waved his hands and said, "Your new position is still the commander of the 47th Group Army, but the unit you belong to has changed for some reason."
"What has changed?" Sokov asked in surprise: "What has changed?"
"Originally, according to the arrangements of the Supreme Command, the 47th Group Army will officially belong to the First Ukrainian Front starting in May." Konev said with a somewhat embarrassed expression: "But the situation suddenly changed, and this unit cannot be used for the time being.
It is placed under my command, so from now on, you belong to the 1st Belorussian Front."
When he learned that he was about to become a member of the 1st Belarusian Front, Sokov almost waved his fists and cheered. However, he concealed the joy in his heart very well and pretended to be aggrieved: "Comrade Marshal, I didn't mean to follow you.
Are you going to the 1st Ukrainian Front with you? Why did the army I went to become the 1st Belarusian Front in the blink of an eye?"
Konev felt a little sorry for Sokov in this matter, so he first changed the pre-arranged 40th Group Army into the 47th Group Army; now this unit that should have belonged to the First Ukrainian Front,
But he stayed in the organization of Rokossovsky's 1st Belorussian Front.
"Comrade Sokov, although something unexpected happened this time and you are not allowed to stay in the First Ukrainian Front, there is no need to be discouraged. There is no telling when we will have the opportunity to fight side by side."
After saying this, Konev sat back behind his desk, looked at Sokov and asked: "Have you decided on the candidates you will bring to the new unit?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov knew that he was going to take away a large group of people, including many regiment-level commanders, who must be reported here by Konev, so he prepared the list in advance.
, placed in front of Konev: "This is the list of personnel who will accompany me to the new unit."
Konev first took out his reading glasses from the glasses case placed aside and put them on, then picked up the list and browsed it carefully.
After reading the names above, a surprised expression appeared on his face: "Comrade Sokov, why is there no Colonel Muzichenko? As far as I know, he is the same as Ponedelin and Kirillov.
It's all thanks to you that I can enter this army. Why doesn't he follow you when you go to the new army?"
"He may like the environment of the Second Ukrainian Front." Although Sokov also had opinions about Muzichenko in his heart, he did not say anything bad about him at this time: "Since he is unwilling to leave, I will not force him.
Him, let him stay."
Konev took off his glasses, pointed at the list with the temples of his spectacles and said: "It seems that there are five less students following the Frunze Military Academy. It seems that they are also very satisfied with the environment of the Second Front, so they are not willing to
Follow you to the new unit."
"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Sokov felt that everyone has his own ambitions, and forceful force is not sweet. Since these students, like Muzichenko, are unwilling to go to the new army with him, there is no need to force them. "They also
I am very satisfied with the current environment and my position, and want to continue to stay in the Second Front Army."
"So that's it." Konev nodded, put the list aside, and then said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, since you are leaving, have you finished all the work that needs to be done?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I have basically handed over all the work in my hands to the deputy commander, General Trofimenko." Sokov said to Konev: "I am ready to go, as long as
Once the superior gives the order, he can immediately leave for the designated place to take up his post."
Konev stood up, walked around from behind the desk, walked to Sokov, stopped in front of him, and said to him: "Comrade Sokov, you should go back and make preparations as soon as possible. I estimate that Rokosov will
Ski will call you and ask you to rush over and take office."
Sokov stayed in Konev's office for almost half an hour before leaving.
Walking in the deserted corridor, Sokov waved his fist excitedly. He never dreamed that he would become Rokossovsky's subordinate through some strange combination of circumstances. As long as he officially entered
The 1st Belarusian Front, then the troops under my command may become the first troops to rush into Berlin in the future. This is a great honor and is worthy of being recorded in history.
Just after Sokov returned to his headquarters, before Sokov had time to tell Smirnov and Samyko about his trip to the headquarters, the phone on the table rang. Samyko, who was closer,
He directly grabbed the microphone and put it to his ear: "I am Chief of Staff Sameko, where are you?"
After hearing the other party's answer clearly, Samyko was stunned. After a while, he murmured to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is your call."
Just as Sokov reached out to pick up the phone, he suddenly added: "It's the commander of the 1st Belarusian Front, General Rokossovsky."
Although Sokov had long known that Rokossovsky would call him, when he heard that it was Rokossovsky, he still trembled. He took the phone and put it to his ear.
He said nervously: "Hello, Comrade General, I am Sokov. What instructions do you have?"
"Comrade Sokov," even though Rokossovsky had been calling Sokov by his nickname Misha after Zhukov for a while, he still called the other party by his last name on the phone: "I want to ask you, what are you talking about?"
When can you come and take office?"
Sokov hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade General, I'm afraid it will take three days at the earliest before I can get to you. The only reason it takes so long is that the journey is too far, and some things have to be brought there.
His subordinates are still scattered in various units, and it will take a certain amount of time to assemble them."
"I'm not afraid of the long journey," Rokossovsky replied cheerfully. "I can send two transport planes to pick you up, so that you can save some of the trouble of traveling. As for gathering the subordinates, I think
You need to hurry up, otherwise it may take a lot of time when some of the members go on missions."
"No, Comrade General." Sokov explained to Rokossovsky: "I have said hello to all the people who want to follow me to the new unit as early as two days ago. During these two days, I have to be in a state of emergency at any time.
On standby, just wait for my call and rush over to gather immediately. If we start gathering now, we will be able to gather everyone by noon tomorrow at the latest."
"Time is tight, you should act as soon as possible." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "Although the offensive operations of the First Ukrainian Front Army and the Second Front Army have temporarily come to an end, my troops will soon
will launch an attack on the enemy, so I hope you will come over as soon as possible and familiarize yourself with your troops in advance, so that it will be easier to command."
"Understood, Comrade General, I'll have someone notify them right away." Seeing Rokossovsky's urgency, Sokov temporarily changed his mind and assured the other party: "At noon tomorrow at the latest, everyone will be able to
Complete the assembly and fly to your defense area without any delay."
"Very good, Comrade Sokov." Rokossovsky was very satisfied with Sokov's statement. He nodded and said, "After you come, I will have a good talk with you. If you
If you need any help, just ask and I will try my best to meet all your needs."
Putting down the phone, he immediately ordered Koshkin to call Ponedelin and Kirillov, and said to them: "General Ponedelin, Colonel Kirillov, I just received the call from Rokossovsky."
The commander called and asked us to rush over and report as soon as possible. You should immediately contact the commanders who are preparing to leave with me and ask them to gather here at noon tomorrow at the latest and then take a plane to the 1st Belarusian Front. Understood.
?"
"Understood!" Ponedelin and Kirillov replied loudly.