After Zhukov ended the call with Malinin, he called his chief of staff Golushkevich. After the call was connected, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Major General, do we currently have transport aircraft in the combat area of the 16th Group Army?"
"Comrade General, I will check it immediately." Golushkevich didn't know why Zhukov asked about this matter, so he said calmly: "I will inform you when the results are available."
If it were normal times, Zhukov might put down the phone and wait for Golushkevich's reply with peace of mind. But at this moment, Rokossovsky is on the verge of death. If he is sent to Moscow earlier, his life can be saved earlier. Therefore, Zhukov said stubbornly: "You will inquire immediately, and I will wait for your reply."
"Comrade General," Golushkevich said with a bit of laughter and laughter: "I estimate that it will take ten minutes at the earliest to find out whether there is any of our transport planes in the defensive zone of the 16th Army."
"No, I can only give you two minutes at most." Zhukov said forcefully: "Rokossovsky is seriously injured and needs to be sent to Moscow for rescue immediately. Every extra minute of delay will cause him to suffer What danger."
"What, Rokossovsky is injured?" This unexpected news startled Major General Golushkevich. He hurriedly flipped through the book in front of him and quickly checked the contents recorded on it. When he discovered the useful information above, he quickly said to Zhukov: "Comrade General, today we sent a C-47 transport plane to deliver supplies to the 61st Group Army. It should not have returned yet."
"Get in touch with General Popov immediately." After Zhukov heard what Golushkevich said, he immediately ordered: "After completing the unloading, let the plane immediately forward Suhinich and send Rokossov Take Sky back to Moscow."
"Comrade General." Golushkevich waited for Zhukov to finish and then asked carefully: "I wonder which hospital in Moscow we should send Comrade Rokossovsky to."
"I want to report the news of Rokossovsky's injury to the Supreme Command immediately to see which hospital they plan to place Rokossovsky in." Zhukov said hesitantly: "Your task is to arrange it immediately. The plane will divert to Susinich first."
Zhukov knew very well that if reports were reported at all levels according to the usual practice, it would take at least several hours for Stalin to know the news of Rokossovsky's injury. So he picked up the high-frequency phone on his desk and dialed the Kremlin switchboard directly. After the receiver beeped twice, he heard someone asking: "This is the Kremlin, where do you want it?"
"I am General Zhukov." Zhukov said into the microphone: "Get me to Comrade Stalin's office immediately. I have important things to report to him."
Stalin was sitting behind his desk, looking down at a speech. In an hour, he will go to the racecourse next to the Kremlin to attend the Women's Day celebration held there. At the meeting, he will deliver a passionate speech, allowing all female comrades to extend their holiday congratulations. At this moment, the door was pushed open and Poskrebyshev appeared at the door.
"Boskrebyshev," Stalin took off the cigarette butt in his mouth and stared at his bald secretary and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Comrade Stalin." Boskrebyshev replied respectfully: "The call from General Zhukov is on the front line. From his tone, it seems that there is something urgent."
Stalin nodded, reached for the phone on the table, and said into the receiver: "Hello, Comrade Zhukov, this is Stalin. Please call me. Do you have any good news to tell me?" Posklebe said. Seeing that Stalin was already on the phone, Scheff quietly exited the office and closed the door behind him.
"Comrade Stalin, unfortunately, I have brought you bad news." Zhukov said in a serious tone: "Rokossovsky's headquarters was attacked by the German army. He himself was seriously injured and needed immediate attention. Return to Moscow for treatment."
"What, Rokossovsky is injured?" When Stalin heard the news, he was also shocked and asked quickly: "Have you contacted the military hospital in Moscow for him?"
"Not yet, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov said with some embarrassment: "According to normal procedures, I should report this to the Supreme Command and the General Staff in advance, and they will report the matter to you. Then come back after you know about it. The hospital where Rokossovsky was treated..."
Stalin patiently waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, and immediately said approvingly: "Comrade Zhukov, you did the right thing! In this time of racing against time, there is no need to follow the previous procedures. By the way, from Sushinich to Moscow is not close, how do you plan to send Rokossovsky back to Moscow?"
"I have sent a C-47 transport plane to Sushinich." After Zhukov answered, he asked: "Comrade Stalin, I wonder which military hospital you plan to place him in?"
"I think we will arrange him at the Dimiryazev Agricultural College." After Stalin finished speaking, he was afraid that Zhukov would misunderstand him and quickly added: "Since the college has been closed, the army has requisitioned several teaching buildings. and the dormitory building, which served as a military hospital. There was an open field outside the college, and the plane transporting Rokossovsky could land directly there."
After Malinin obtained Zhukov's comrade, he immediately ordered people to clear an open area in the east of the city so that planes flying from the 61st Army's defense zone could land. As for who would escort Rokossovsky back to Moscow, several army chiefs quickly reached a consensus and handed over this glorious and arduous task to Sokov and another staff officer.
After the plane landed in an open area outside the city, Sokov helped the stretcher bearers carry Rokossovsky onto the plane. Just as the plane was about to take off, a jeep came speeding towards us. Still far away, someone poked his head out from the co-pilot's side and shouted loudly: "Wait a minute, wait a minute!"
Ma Lining, who was standing next to the plane, heard someone shouting and guessed that something might have happened. He ordered the pilot to wait for a moment and went over with two soldiers.
The jeep stopped five or six meters away from Ma Lining, and a political worker jumped out of the car. Ma Lining recognized this person as a staff member of the Army's Political Department and asked curiously: "What happened?"
After the political workers raised their hands to salute Malinin, they reported: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have just received an order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, saying that she needs to continue to be examined. I was ordered to send her to Lubyanka in Moscow." He finished. Finally, he turned around and shouted in the direction of the jeep, "We're here, get out of the car." Following the shout, the back door of the jeep was pushed open, and a young female second lieutenant wearing a German uniform walked out of the car.
Although many people in the Army Headquarters knew that Elizabeth was an anti-fascist and a member of the underground resistance organization. But before completing her review, Malinen still addressed her by her military rank: "Is that Second Lieutenant Elisabeth?"
Elizabeth said respectfully: "It's me, Your Excellency, Chief of Staff."
Malinen pointed to the plane next to him and said: "Second Lieutenant Elizabeth, you will take this plane to Moscow later." After saying this, he paused for a moment, and then continued, "There are cables on the plane that you are familiar with. Major Kove, he will fly to Moscow with you."
