"You are talking about General Petrov." Although Sokov did not name the specific name, Malinin did not know who he was talking about: "He once led the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol.
In October 1941, he served as the commander of the 44th Army. In 1943, he served as the commander of the North Caucasus Front. He participated in the Kerch-Elitighen landing battle and the liberation of Maykop and Krasnodar. In 1944, he served as the commander of the Second Belarusian Army.
Commander of the Front and the Fourth Ukrainian Front, and received the rank of general."
Since Malinen has already told the other party's resume, Sokov will naturally not deny it: "Yes, it's him."
Malinen was silent for a moment, nodded and said: "Misha, you are right. He is indeed very good at commanding the troops to enter the defense. But when it comes to offensive operations, his strength is still a little bit behind. You know, he serves as the Belarusian commander.
The commander of the Second Front Army was relieved of his post after only two months, and he was dismissed two days before the start of the Bagration operation. This shows that the Supreme Command also realized that his ability was not enough to command the troops to participate in this kind of operation.
A massive counterattack."
"I think it should be like this."
"Misha," Malinin hesitated for a moment, but said decisively: "According to the information I received, the Supreme Command intended you to take over Petrov's position and serve as the commander of the Second Belarusian Front. Later, someone
Saying that you are too young may not convince the public, and may have a negative impact on the subsequent Bagration operation. It is for this reason that after Petrov was dismissed, General Zakharov took over the position.
.”
"General Malinin, in fact, the decision made by the Supreme Command is correct." Sokov is very self-aware. With his own ability, being a group army commander is already the limit. If he is really allowed to command the Second Belarusian Front
, he might be sent to a military court in the end. So, throw away your unrealistic illusions and just be the commander of your own group army with peace of mind: "With my ability, I am simply not enough to command a front army unit."
Malinin laughed twice and said: "You should still remember that at that time I was the chief of staff of the First Belarusian Front, and Marshal Rokossovsky was the commander. The two of us had discussed this issue.
Marshal Rokossovsky said that with your ability, it may be difficult to command such a large army at the beginning, but as long as you have capable subordinates to assist you, your command level will improve in a short time.
It will be greatly improved, and maybe the troops you command will be the first to rush into Berlin in the future."
Hearing Malinin talk about being the first to rush into Berlin, Sokov couldn't help but laugh twice. He dreamed that his troops would be the first to enter Berlin, but things changed, and as Rokossov
With Marshal Ski's transfer, he was also transferred from the First Front Army to the Second Front Army, and the main offensive direction he was responsible for was also adjusted. He soon discovered that no matter how hard he tried, no matter how many victories he won, he was not qualified to become a
The first troops to enter Berlin.
Malinin was obviously aware of this. His old partner Rokossovsky was transferred from the First Front by Stalin because of his Polish ancestry, and lost the qualification to enter Berlin first. If there is any regret, Rokossovsky
Kosovsky regrets it even more than Sokov.
"Misha, you must be very tired after taking the train for such a long time." Malinin stood up and said to Sokov: "You go back and rest first. If you have anything else, we will talk about it when we meet tomorrow."
Sokov returned to the room assigned to him by Malinin, washed himself briefly, and then lay down on the bed to rest. The whole trip was really tiring for him.
When he slept until midnight, he felt as if there was an extra person on the bed, and he knew who it was by the feel of his hand.
Early the next morning, he woke up Kopalova, who was sleeping next to him: "Kopalova, it's getting late, shall we go out for breakfast?"
Kopalova, who was soft all over, struggled to sit up and said to Sokov: "Misha, I contacted Moscow yesterday and they said they would send someone to meet me as soon as possible. After breakfast, I will
We need to go to the location where the press station is located and make preliminary preparations."
Sokov put his arm around Kopalova's shoulders and asked softly: "You went to the press station, will you still have time to come over in the future?"
Kopalova thought for a while and then said: "I am the only one in the press station, so I can't leave casually. But if you really miss me, you can come and find me. Got it?"
When they arrived at the restaurant, Seryosha, Vaserigov and Serelkov had almost finished breakfast.
Seeing the arrival of Sokov and Kopalova, Serelkov quickly gave them two meals, put them down and said: "Please have a meal, I wish you a good appetite!"
"Seryosa," Sokov said to Seryosha as he started to eat: "Kopalova will go to the press station after breakfast. You and two guards will see her off later."
"Ah, you are leaving so soon?" After Seryosha said this, he turned to look at Kopalova and asked: "Kopalova, can't you stay here for two more days? You know,
Even if the newspaper sends a new reporter over, it will still take several days."
"There is no way," Kopalova said helplessly: "The newspaper asked me to do the preliminary work of the reporter station first, so that when the people from Moscow arrive, we can start work as soon as possible."
"Comrade General," Vaserigov asked Sokov tentatively after waiting for Kopalova to finish speaking, "I wonder what your plans are for today?"
"I'm going to see General Malinin later. I guess he will send someone to accompany me to the 4th Guards Army to take office." Sokov said: "Vaseligov, Serelkov, you two will accompany me.
.”
"Yes!" Vasergov and Serelkov replied in unison.
After breakfast, Kopalova said goodbye to Sokov, and, accompanied by Seryosha and two guards, headed to the area where the press station was located. Sokov took Seryorkov and Vaserigo with him
The husband went to Malinen's headquarters to accept his new position.
When he came to the office, Malinin put down his work, came over and shook hands with Sokov, and said at the same time: "After I reported the attack on you on the road yesterday to my superiors, Marshal Zhukov called me early in the morning.
Ask about your specific situation. I told him that although most of the passengers on the train were killed by bandits, they were not harmed because of the protection of several capable guards around you."
"Marshal Zhukov is really thoughtful." Sokov said gratefully after hearing this: "He even called me personally for my matter."
"Misha, I will send my adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Onischenko, to accompany you to take office in the 4th Guards Army later."
"Thank you so much."
When Sokov was about to leave, Malinin held his hand and said earnestly: "Misha, in this attack plan, the 4th Guards Army under your command will be the first to attack the enemy.
If you have any good ideas, remember to communicate with me in time. You must remember that I am your strong backing."
Sokov came outside and found Vaserigov chatting with Onischenko.
Seeing Sokov coming out, Vaserigov and Serelkov quickly came to the spot and stood at attention. Onischenko raised his hand in salute and said respectfully: "On the order of the commander, I will send you to the Guards Division.
4th Army. If you are ready, we will set off now."
The convoy heading to the headquarters of the 4th Guards Army was very simple, with only three jeeps.
Serelkov sat in the first jeep, Vaserigov sat in the last car, and Sokov and Onischenko sat in the middle car.
On the way, Sokov kept looking out the window to see how long it would take to arrive.
When Onischenko saw Sokov's expression, he misunderstood and took the initiative to explain: "Comrade General, don't worry. You are now in Vienna. It is safe here. We have eliminated all enemies.
There will be no danger."
But after hearing this, Sokov laughed and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we must not take it lightly. If a certain army pretends to be gangsters and attacks us, then our small convoy will be wiped out.
danger.”
"Comrade General, your worries are unnecessary." Onischenko said with a smile: "I can assure you that you will not see any enemies near Vienna."
"That's not necessarily true." Sokov had done his homework before coming here. The defense area of the Guards Army is bordering the US military. If the other party wants to do something, they can pretend to be gangsters and carry out a sneak attack on him. If that happens,
, he himself became an unjust ghost.
Kopalova, who was soft all over, struggled to sit up and said to Sokov: "Misha, I contacted Moscow yesterday and they said they would send someone to meet me as soon as possible. After breakfast, I will
We need to go to the location where the press station is located and make preliminary preparations."
Sokov put his arm around Kopalova's shoulders and asked softly: "You went to the press station, will you still have time to come over in the future?"
Kopalova thought for a while and then said: "I am the only one in the press station, so I can't leave casually. But if you really miss me, you can come and find me. Got it?"
When they arrived at the restaurant, Seryosha, Vaserigov and Serelkov had almost finished breakfast.
Seeing the arrival of Sokov and Kopalova, Serelkov quickly gave them two meals, put them down and said: "Please have a meal, I wish you a good appetite!"
"Seryosa," Sokov said to Seryosha as he started to eat: "Kopalova will go to the press station after breakfast. You will bring two guards to see her off later."
"Ah, you are leaving so soon?" After Seryosha said this, he turned to look at Kopalova and asked: "Kopalova, can't you stay here for two more days? You know,
Even if the newspaper sends a new reporter over, it will still take several days."
"There is no way," Kopalova said helplessly: "The newspaper asked me to do the preliminary work of the reporter station first, so that when the people from Moscow arrive, the work can be started as soon as possible."
"Comrade General," Vaserigov asked Sokov tentatively after waiting for Kopalova to finish speaking, "I wonder what your plans are for today?"
"I'm going to see General Malinin later. I guess he will send someone to accompany me to the 4th Guards Army to take office." Sokov said: "Vaseligov, Serelkov, you two will accompany me.
.”
"Yes!" Vasergov and Serelkov replied in unison.
After breakfast, Kopalova said goodbye to Sokov, and, accompanied by Seryosha and two guards, headed to the area where the press station was located. Sokov took Seryorkov and Vaserigo with him
The husband went to Malinen's headquarters to accept his new position.
When he came to the office, Malinin put down his work, came over and shook hands with Sokov, and said at the same time: "After I reported the attack on you on the road yesterday to my superiors, Marshal Zhukov called me early in the morning.
Ask about your specific situation. I told him that although most of the passengers on the train were killed by bandits, they were not harmed because of the protection of several capable guards around you."
"Marshal Zhukov is really thoughtful." Sokov said gratefully after hearing this: "He even called me personally for my matter."
"Misha, I will send my adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Onischenko, to accompany you to take office in the 4th Guards Army later."
"Thank you so much."
When Sokov was about to leave, Malinin held his hand and said earnestly: "Misha, in this attack plan, the 4th Guards Army under your command will be the first to attack the enemy.
If you have any good ideas, remember to communicate with me in time. You must remember that I am your strong backing."
Sokov came outside and found Vaserigov chatting with Onischenko.
Seeing Sokov coming out, Vaserigov and Serelkov quickly came to the spot and stood at attention. Onischenko raised his hand in salute and said respectfully: "On the order of the commander, I will send you to the Guards Division.
4th Army. If you are ready, we will set off now."
The convoy heading to the headquarters of the 4th Guards Army was very simple, with only three jeeps.
Serelkov sat in the first jeep, Vaserigov sat in the last car, and Sokov and Onischenko sat in the middle car.
On the way, Sokov kept looking out the window to see how long it would take to arrive.
When Onischenko saw Sokov's expression, he misunderstood and took the initiative to explain: "Comrade General, don't worry. You are now in Vienna. It is safe here. We have eliminated all enemies.
There will be no danger."
But after hearing this, Sokov laughed and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we must not take it lightly. If a certain army pretends to be gangsters and attacks us, then our small convoy will be wiped out.
danger.”
"Comrade General, your worries are unnecessary." Onischenko said with a smile: "I can assure you that you will not see any enemies near Vienna."
"That's not necessarily true." Sokov had done his homework before coming here. The defense area of the Guards Army is bordering the US military. If the other party wants to do something, they can pretend to be gangsters and carry out a sneak attack on him. If that happens,