After the newly promoted battalion commanders all went to work separately, Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I really didn't expect that the base camp would go beyond the front headquarters and directly transform our battalion into an infantry brigade."
"Comrade Brigadier, I can see that this is the recognition of your abilities and achievements by your superiors." After Belkin said this, he asked tentatively: "The expansion of the army is very convenient. The original squad leader has been promoted." Platoon commander, platoon commander is promoted to company commander, and company commander is promoted to battalion commander. Do you think that after we complete the expansion, should we report it to the front army headquarters so that the commander can also be aware of it? "
"Comrade Political Commissar, what you said makes sense." Sokov considered the expansion of the battalion into a brigade. The base camp directly passed the order issued by the head of the front army. As a member of the Bryansk front army, Sokov was sensible and reasonable. All should report to Rokossovsky. Thinking of this, he asked Lieutenant Maxim, the newly promoted communications company commander, to send a telegram to the front army headquarters to give a detailed report on the expansion.
Rokossovsky was also surprised when he received the telegram from Sokov. He did not expect that the base camp would bypass him and directly give Sokov an order to expand the troops. Although there was a lot of dissatisfaction in his heart, since the decision was made by his superiors, even as the commander of the front army, he had no right to change it. He handed the telegram into Malinin's hands and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think of this matter?"
Malinin carefully read the telegram sent by Sokov. He was so thoughtful that he naturally understood what Rokossovsky was thinking. He quickly said: "Comrade Commander, I think the Istria Battalion should be expanded into an infantry brigade." , is completely necessary. We all know what Sokov's commanding ability is. If he always commands a battalion, then his commanding ability will not be fully demonstrated. But now he is commanding an infantry brigade , I believe he can accomplish great feats in the following battles."
Rokossovsky naturally understood that letting Sokov command a brigade would play a role no less than that of an infantry corps. The dissatisfaction I felt just now was just because the superior gave Sokov an order directly without greeting him. After Ma Lining finished speaking, he said with some worry: "They only have a few hundred people. Even if they are expanded into an infantry brigade, it will be just an empty frame. I am afraid it will be difficult to form combat effectiveness in a short time. It is a pity that our current strength is limited, otherwise we can Allocate some of the troops to him so that his infantry brigade will be worthy of its name."
What Rokossovsky said was exactly what Malinin was worried about. He thought for a while and then said: "Comrade Commander, do you think this is okay? I will send a telegram back to Sokov and ask him what difficulties he has? Then we will discuss how to help him."
"It seems that this is the only way." Rokossovsky nodded and said to Malinin: "After you send him the telegram, send another telegram to Major General Rotmistrov to urge his tanks to The 7th Army must speed up its march and must reach Kursk within two days to join Sokov’s 73rd Infantry Brigade.”
After receiving Malinin's telegram, Rotmistrov was really dumbfounded. Why didn't he want to rush to Kursk as soon as possible and join the troops occupying the city. However, the road traffic conditions were so poor that the tank troops were traveling at no more than five kilometers per hour. Even if they wanted to speed up, there was nothing they could do.
The Army Chief of Staff asked him tentatively: "Comrade Commander, would you like to call back the Front Army Headquarters and report to them the difficulties we have encountered?"
"No, there is only one infantry battalion currently stationed in Kursk. They cannot stop the enemy's strong attack at all. We must rush to support them as soon as possible." After a short period of thinking, Rotmistrov said decisively He said: "Call back to the front army headquarters and tell us that our army will speed up its march and arrive at Kursk to join the friendly forces within the specified time."
Seeing that Rotmistrov's attitude was so resolute, the army chief of staff could not persuade him any more, so he had to agree and turned around to send the telegram. Rotmistrov ordered a staff officer: "Immediately organize manpower to cut down trees and lay a road ahead for controllable tank passage."
After reading Malinin's telegram, Sokov handed it to Belkin and asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, look, what difficulties does our brigade have that our superiors need to help us solve?"
After reading the telegram, Belkin thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, after the rapid expansion of our brigade, there will be a serious shortage of grassroots commanders. Do you think it is possible to ask the head of the front army to support us?" batch of commanders so that they can be enriched into various combat units."
"Yes, we do lack commanders at all levels." Sokov stood up and walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back: "But the front army headquarters is also facing the same problem, even if we made a request in this regard , may not be satisfied. In my opinion, it is better to call back the head of the front army and say that we will find ways to overcome the difficulties we are currently facing."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Belkin saw Sokov's understatement and reminded him specifically: "There is a huge gap in commanders at all levels in the brigade. We can promote the missing company and platoon-level commanders from below. . But there is still a vacancy for a battalion commander, and no suitable candidate can be found in the brigade."
Hearing what Belkin said, Sokov couldn't help but think of the original third company commander Saviev. Although his abilities were limited, he had participated in many fierce battles and had rich combat experience. He was asked to serve as the fourth battalion commander. Long, it should still be barely competent. But then he thought about it. Vanya rescued nearly a thousand captured soldiers in the prisoner-of-war camp south of the city. There must be many commanders among them. Maybe a group of them can be selected and returned to command positions at all levels. .
Thinking of this, he said to Belkin: "Don't worry, comrade political commissar, I plan to go and see the rescued prisoners of war to see if I can pick out some suitable commanders from among them."
Unexpectedly, after Belkin heard this, he tried his best to dissuade him and said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I think it is inappropriate for an officer who has just come out of a prisoner of war camp to hold such an important position. I think you should think of other ways." .”
Seeing that Belkin objected to his opinion, Sokov did not argue with him, but asked: "Comrade political commissar, since you are opposed to selecting officers from prisoners of war to serve as commanders at all levels, then you have suitable candidates. Will you be the commander of the fourth battalion?"
After hearing this, Belkin actually nodded and said in a positive tone: "Yes, I do know that there is such a person who is completely qualified for the position of battalion commander."
"Who?" Sokov asked curiously.
"Captain Brisky, commander of the fourth platoon of the company." Belkin said with a smile: "I think he is qualified for the position of battalion commander."
