Rokossovsky reported Sokov's request to the Supreme Commander himself.
After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Stalin was silent for a long time and then said: "I understand, Konstantin Konstantinovich. I will consider this matter carefully. After the result is obtained,
I will order someone to notify you as soon as possible."
After ending the call with Rokossovsky, Stalin pressed the intercom in front of him. When he heard Boskrebyshev's voice coming from inside, he said: "Let Vasilevsky and
Antonov come to me."
Vasilevsky and Antonov were at the General Staff Headquarters at the moment, studying some details of the Far East campaign. They received a call from Boskrebyshev. Knowing that Stalin had something to ask of them, they didn't dare to neglect, so they rushed over.
Stalin saw the two people walking into the office, nodded to them, and then asked: "Are you studying the details of the Far East campaign?"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky stepped forward and replied loudly: "We have considered various situations that may arise during the battle and calculated the time required for the battle based on these situations."
Stalin lit the pipe in his mouth and then asked: "Then how long do you think the Far East campaign we launched will take?"
"One month, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky replied confidently: "Although the Kwantung Army has nearly one million troops, after our research, we found that all their elites have been transferred to the Pacific battlefield and are fighting with the Allies.
During the battle of the Kwantung Army, a large number of them were consumed. Although the Kwantung Army in the Far East today is large in number, they are all improvised troops, and their combat effectiveness cannot be compared with the original Kwantung Army. It is based on this consideration that we feel that in
It is entirely possible to resolve the battle within a month."
Stalin had great trust in both Vasilevsky and Antonov, and naturally believed deeply in what they said. After walking back and forth in the room twice with a pipe in his mouth, he suddenly stopped and asked
Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I have the son of an old comrade in arms who really wants to participate in this Far East operation. As the commander of the Far East Force appointed by the Supreme Command, what do you think?"
Vasilevsky was a cautious person. Before he figured out who Stalin was talking about, he did not answer the other party's question easily, but asked cautiously: "Comrade Stalin, can I ask who he is?"
?”
"He is the commander of a unit. This time, the unit that was going to be transferred to the Far East happened to be without his unit." Stalin said: "So he reported to me through his superiors, hoping to work with a certain unit that was going to be transferred to the Far East."
The commander of the Far Eastern Force was changed so that he could participate in the Far Eastern Campaign a few months later."
Due to Stalin's vague words, Vasilevsky was confused. But Antonov had received phone calls from Zhukov and Rokossovsky, so he naturally knew that Stalin was talking about Sokov.
, he was deeply afraid that Vasilevsky would say the wrong thing, so he quickly stepped forward and said before Vasilevsky: "Comrade Stalin, if the son of the old comrade you mentioned is an outstanding
Commander, we should support his enthusiasm for participating in the Far East Campaign. I think it is acceptable to swap him with the commander of a certain participating unit, as long as the gap between the two units is not large."
Hearing what Antonov said, Stalin smiled, because the other party's ideas coincided with his own. But he did not tell the truth, but asked: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, tell me,
How can we ensure that the gap between the two armies is not big?"
Antonov hesitated for a moment, then said tactfully: "For example, if he is a group army commander, he may command more than 100,000 troops. And among the troops we mobilized this time, the one with the smallest number is Romanov.
Ski's 19th Army has only 30,000 to 40,000 people. If a group army commander who commands more than 100,000 people is suddenly transferred to an army with only 30,000 to 40,000 people, people will inevitably misunderstand him.
He made some mistake and was demoted in disguise."
"Comrade Chief of General Staff," Stalin looked at Antonov with a half-smile and asked, "Do you have any good ideas?"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Antonov nodded and said, "I think the 53rd Army is more suitable for him than the 19th Army. Why not let him swap with the commander of the 53rd Army. The most important thing is that he once
Having served as the commander of this group army, I will be able to better command this unit after taking office."
The conversation between Stalin and Antonov was like a riddle to Vasilevsky, confusing him. After a long time when both of them were silent, he finally couldn't help but speak.
: "Comrade Stalin, what are you talking about? Why can't I understand you at all?"
Antonov did not immediately answer Vasilevsky's question, but turned his attention to Stalin, wanting to see what the other party meant and whether he agreed to tell Vasilevsky the truth. Stalin and Antonov
After making eye contact, he nodded slightly, indicating that the other party could tell the truth.
After receiving Stalin's instructions, Antonov said: "Comrade Marshal, the son of the old comrade that Comrade Stalin mentioned is the commander of the 48th Group Army, General Sokov. Not long ago, he passed Zhukov and Roman
Kossovsky, made a request to me, hoping to send him to the Far East to participate in the battle against the Kwantung Army."
When Vasilevsky heard what Antonov said, he immediately understood what was going on: "Oh, so that's what happened. I was just wondering why you suddenly got involved with the 19th and 53rd Army Groups. No.
Wrong, the strength of the 19th Army is indeed too small. If Sokov and Romanovsky are swapped, many people will definitely misunderstand him, thinking that he made some mistake and was demoted in disguise.
"
"Comrade Chief of General Staff," Stalin asked: "Which front army does the 53rd Army intend to be integrated into?"
"It's the Transbaikal Front, Comrade Stalin." Antonov replied respectfully: "The commander is Marshal Malinovsky, the military commissar is Lieutenant General Devchenkov, and the chief of staff is General Zakharov.
.”
"If I remember correctly, Zakharov should have dealt with Xiao Misha." Stalin said: "It is said that he quite admired Xiao Misha."
"Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky said with a smile: "An excellent commander like Sokov is the most popular no matter which army he is in. I think Marshal Malinovsky knows that Sokov
My husband is about to join his army and he will definitely be happy from ear to ear."
"Then shall we notify Rokossovsky now?" Antonov asked Stalin tentatively: "Tell him that you have agreed to exchange General Sokov with the current commander of the 53rd Army?"
"There's no rush at the moment." Stalin waved his hand and asked. "According to the original plan, when will the troops on the Western Front be transported to the Far East?"
Antonov quickly replied: "The departure time of the troops will not be earlier than June 10."
"So, there are still more than twenty days." Stalin gently knocked his pipe on the edge of the ashtray twice, knocking all the ashes inside: "I think we can let Xiao Misha go back to Moscow first.
"
"Let General Sokov return to Moscow?" Antonov asked in surprise: "Are you planning to meet him?"
"That's not necessarily true." Stalin waved his hand and said, "First arrange for him to go to a sanatorium outside Moscow to recuperate for half a month. As far as I know, he has been injured many times in the past few years and his physical condition is not very ideal. If
If he is rushed to the battlefield without letting him rest for a while, I am worried that his body will not be able to bear it."
"I understand, Comrade Stalin." Antonov nodded and said, "The General Staff has a sanatorium in the east of the city. I think General Sokov can go there to recuperate for a while."
"It's not enough for him alone. Send his wife as well." Stalin added: "I heard Yasha say that they have been married for two or three years, but they have never had children. If possible, send another one."
Let the doctor check it out and find out whose fault it is."
"Okay, I will arrange it."
Two days later, Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky: "Misha, hand over your work to Chief of Staff Sidorin immediately, and then rush to me immediately."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov was secretly surprised. Could it be that the Supreme Command notified me and the commander of the 53rd Army to swap, and Rokossovsky asked me to go to the front army headquarters just to meet him in person?
Announce this?
After Sokov put down the phone, he immediately handed over the army's work to Sidorin.
After the handover was completed, Lunev asked tentatively: "Misha, you said that Comrade Marshal asked you to go to the front army headquarters. Is it related to your desire to switch positions with the commander of the 53rd Army?"
"I think this may be the case." When he thought that he had the opportunity to go to the Far East to teach the Kwantung Army a lesson, Sokov became a little bit impatient and wanted to rush there immediately.
But before he could go out, he heard Sidorin sigh and say to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, if the commander really swaps positions with the friendly commander, how will he arrange the two of us?
?Should you go to the new unit with the commander, or should you continue to stay here?"
Lunev glanced at Sokov who was standing at the door, and said helplessly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think I can answer your question. I'm afraid I can only wait until Mischa goes to the front army headquarters.
, then we know the final answer.”
"Don't worry, Chief of Staff." Sokov comforted Sidorin and said, "As long as I have accurate information, I will inform you in time."
After driving to the front army headquarters and meeting Rokossovsky, Sokov asked with some urgency: "Comrade Marshal, has the Supreme Command agreed to my request and allowed me to swap with the commander of the 53rd Group Army?"
?”
"Misha, the Supreme Command did not give a definite answer to what you said." Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "I'm afraid you will have to wait for a while to know the final result."
Seeing that Rokossovsky didn't know the answer, Sokov couldn't help but feel anxious. However, thinking that there were still two and a half months until the start of the Far East campaign, he tried hard to calm down his emotions and carefully asked Rokossovsky.
Kossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, why did you ask me to come here today?"
"It's like this. I received a call from Chief of General Staff Antonov, saying that your superiors have arranged a recuperation for you and asked you to recuperate for a period of time in a sanatorium in the forest outside Moscow."
When he heard that he was being asked to recuperate in a sanatorium in the forest outside Moscow, Sokov couldn't help but be a little stunned. He hesitated for a moment, and then asked: "Comrade Marshal, according to convention, aren't most recuperations arranged on the shores of the Black Sea? Why is it my turn?"
Why should I recuperate in a forest outside Moscow?"
Rokossovsky smiled after hearing this and said: "Misha, the cities on the Black Sea were liberated not long ago by our army. No one can be sure whether there are still enemy agents hidden inside. If we arrange for you to go to these places to recuperate,
If something unexpected happens, who can take the responsibility? In the forests outside Moscow, there are always a large number of sanatoriums and factory workers, and their annual recuperation is arranged in these places."
"How long will the recuperation last?" Sokov was worried that the recuperation time would be too long and he would miss the Far East campaign, so he asked tentatively: "Won't it take a few months?"
"It's not that long." Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "I asked Antonov, and he said that your recuperation time is only half a month at most."
Knowing that he only needed to stay in the sanatorium in the forest for half a month, Sokov felt much more at ease: "That's good, that's good. After my convalescence is over, I can go to the Far East to participate in the war.
Operations of the Kwantung Army."
"One more thing." Rokossovsky recalled Antonov's instructions and quickly added: "The superiors have also arranged a doctor for you to conduct a detailed physical examination for you and Asya.
"
"A special doctor has been arranged to conduct physical examinations for Asiya and I?" Sokov asked puzzledly: "Why?" According to his idea, although he is a group army commander, in a place like Moscow
, but he is an inconspicuous little person. It would be a bit of a fuss to send him a special doctor.
Rokossovsky coughed heavily and said: "I heard from Antonov that you and Asya have been married for two or three years, and you don't even have a child yet, so you specially arranged a doctor."
, conduct a physical examination on you to see who has the problem."
After Sokov figured out the reason why his superiors sent him a specialized doctor, he immediately blushed and quickly explained to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, there is no need to send a doctor to see me. Asiya and I both
It's fine, there's nothing wrong with it. The reason why we still don't have children is entirely because we only have the name of husband and wife, but not the reality of husband and wife."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Rokossovsky was stunned. He had thought about various possibilities in advance, but he did not think of this possibility. After a while, he pointed at Sokov with his finger and felt a little confused.
He said in a dumbfounded voice: "I never expected that you two still don't have children, so that's what happened. I understand, and I will report it to my superiors truthfully."