After Katukov left, Bogolyubov smiled and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Acting Commander, I wonder if you have discovered anything interesting."
"Interesting thing?" Rokossovsky looked at Bogolyubov in confusion and asked: "What interesting thing?"
"The earliest First Tank Army was formed in 1942 on the basis of the 38th Army, and its first commander was General Moskalenko, the current commander of the 38th Army."
Although after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, many units were formed and then dismantled, Rokossovsky happened to know the history of the First Tank Army. He raised his eyebrows and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said The First Tank Army was initially placed under the command of the Stalingrad Front. However, due to mediocre results, it was disbanded on August 6 of the same year and existed for less than half a month.
Today's First Tank Army was formed on January 4, 1943 on the basis of the 29th Army. Under the command of Katukov, this unit has established considerable merits. I believe that it will not be long before they will be awarded the honorary title of Guards Tank Army. "
Rokossovsky did not want to discuss Katukov's troops too much, but changed the subject in time and asked Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, have you called the commander of the Air Force?"
"Yes, Comrade Acting Commander." Bogolyubov heard Rokossovsky asking himself and quickly replied: "As long as weather conditions permit, our aviation forces will rush to the Korosten area tomorrow to fight there. The 60th Army provided adequate air support."
"Very good." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Based on the current situation, the Germans also feel that they cannot defend the city and are withdrawing their troops from the city in an orderly manner."
"Comrade Acting Commander, I don't understand." Bogolyubov raised his question to Rokossovsky: "Since the Germans felt that they could not defend the city, why didn't they simply withdraw, but chose to withdraw?" The troops are staying outside the city, and they are still preparing to encircle our army? Aren't they worried that these troops will be encircled by our army outside the city? "
In response to Bogolyubov's question, Rokossovsky grinned silently, and then replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the reason is simple. Once they lost the city, they immediately chose to retreat. Then we can leave a force there for defense, and move the main force south to reinforce the 38th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Army that are under attack, so that the battle situation will develop in our favor."
"So that's it." Bogolyubov is also a smart man. After hearing Rokossovsky's words, he immediately guessed the German army's intention: "Even if our army occupied Korosten, as long as their army remains Near the city, we dare not easily dispatch forces south for reinforcements, lest we suffer a counterattack from the enemy when the city is empty of troops."
"Yes, that's the truth." Rokossovsky nodded and affirmed the other party's statement: "The Germans use this method to contain our troops so that their attack in the center can achieve greater success. Result."
"Comrade Rokossovsky," Vatutin, who was ignored by everyone, suddenly asked: "According to the battle reports we received, General Moskalenko's troops are in a very bad situation. But you can neither The troops on the right wing were sent south to reinforce the First Tank Army, which had just arrived in Kiev, and you ordered them to stand still. Are you planning to watch the 38th Army being annihilated by the Germans?"
Perhaps because he felt that there were serious mistakes in Rokossovsky's deployment, Vatutin said this with anger: "Have you ever thought about what will happen to the 38th Army once it is annihilated by the Germans? What impact will it have on the morale of our troops?”
"You are right, Comrade Vatutin." Rokossovsky was very tolerant of Vatutin's complaints, "If General Moskalenko's 38th Group Army is annihilated by the Germans, it will The morale and morale of the 1st Ukrainian Front have been adversely affected. However, are you so unsure of your own troops?"
Rokossovsky's words stopped Vatutin. Yes, am I so unsure of my troops? In any case, the 38th Group Army has four infantry divisions, several infantry brigades, tank brigades, artillery divisions, cavalry and other units. Even if it is attacked by the Germans, it cannot be completely wiped out in a short time.
What's more, to their south is Rybalko's 3rd Guards Tank Army, which has a tank corps and a mechanized corps and can provide necessary support to the 38th Army in difficulty at any time.
Seeing that Vatutin was silent, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade Vatutin, I understand your mood at this time. Seeing that the 38th Army is in danger but no troops are sent to rescue them, I feel the same It's very contradictory. But as senior commanders, we often cannot act emotionally. At this moment, sending General Katukov's First Tank Army to reinforce it can indeed rescue the 38th Army and slow down the German army's advance towards Kiev.
But after this battle, the First Tank Army will definitely pay a heavy price and needs to be replenished before it can participate in a large-scale counterattack against the German army. Nowadays, the reserve team that can be used in the base camp is also very limited. If we have to wait for our superiors to supplement us, the waiting time will be very long. "
Although Vatutin has made many mistakes in command this year, he is still an experienced commander after all. Naturally, he knows very well that occupying Kiev is only a starting point for the liberation of the entire Ukraine. If it cannot be done before the German army has completed its overall defense preparations, If we quickly advance deep into the German defenses, then this battle will be protracted.
"Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." At this time, Vatutin could only bite the bullet and admit that Rokossovsky's approach was undoubtedly the most correct. The 38th Army fought hard against the German troops attacking Kiev. After the enemy has lost a large amount of its effective forces, and then puts the effective forces that have been recuperating for a long time into the battle, it can easily crush the enemy's attack and take advantage of the opportunity to expand the results.
"Comrade Vatutin," Rokossovsky heard Vatutin's conciliatory tone from the other party's tone, and said with a smile: "Anyway, you know the army better. If I have any If you don’t do something right, feel free to point it out, and the two of us will discuss important matters.”
Although Rokossovsky took over the command of the troops, which made Vatutin feel uncomfortable, the two still reached a consensus on the issue of dealing with the German army: "No problem, Comrade Rokossovsky, I I will definitely do my best to help you command the troops."
Seeing that the two commanders had reached superficial cooperation, Bogolyubov, as the chief of staff, couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In this way, the two would no longer restrict each other when issuing various combat orders to the troops.
After Katukov left, Bogolyubov smiled and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Acting Commander, I wonder if you have discovered anything interesting."
"Interesting thing?" Rokossovsky looked at Bogolyubov in confusion and asked: "What interesting thing?"
"The earliest First Tank Army was formed in 1942 on the basis of the 38th Army, and its first commander was General Moskalenko, the current commander of the 38th Army."
Although after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, many units were formed and then dismantled, Rokossovsky happened to know the history of the First Tank Army. He raised his eyebrows and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said The First Tank Army was initially placed under the command of the Stalingrad Front. However, due to mediocre results, it was disbanded on August 6 of the same year and existed for less than half a month.
Today's First Tank Army was formed on January 4, 1943 on the basis of the 29th Army. Under the command of Katukov, this unit has established considerable merits. I believe that it will not be long before they will be awarded the honorary title of Guards Tank Army. "
Rokossovsky did not want to discuss Katukov's troops too much, but changed the subject in time and asked Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, have you called the commander of the Air Force?"
"Yes, Comrade Acting Commander." Bogolyubov heard Rokossovsky asking himself and quickly replied: "As long as weather conditions permit, our aviation forces will rush to the Korosten area tomorrow to fight there. The 60th Army provided adequate air support."
"Very good." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Based on the current situation, the Germans also feel that they cannot defend the city and are withdrawing their troops from the city in an orderly manner."
"Comrade Acting Commander, I don't understand." Bogolyubov raised his question to Rokossovsky: "Since the Germans felt that they could not defend the city, why didn't they simply withdraw, but chose to withdraw?" The troops are staying outside the city, and they are still preparing to encircle our army? Aren't they worried that these troops will be encircled by our army outside the city? "
In response to Bogolyubov's question, Rokossovsky grinned silently, and then replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the reason is simple. Once they lost the city, they immediately chose to retreat. Then we can leave a force there for defense, and move the main force south to reinforce the 38th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Army that are under attack, so that the battle situation will develop in our favor."
"So that's it." Bogolyubov is also a smart man. After hearing Rokossovsky's words, he immediately guessed the German army's intention: "Even if our army occupied Korosten, as long as their army remains Near the city, we dare not easily dispatch forces south for reinforcements, lest we suffer a counterattack from the enemy when the city is empty of troops."
"Yes, that's the truth." Rokossovsky nodded and affirmed the other party's statement: "The Germans use this method to contain our troops so that their attack in the center can achieve greater success. Result."
"Comrade Rokossovsky," Vatutin, who was ignored by everyone, suddenly asked: "According to the battle reports we received, General Moskalenko's troops are in a very bad situation. But you can neither The troops on the right wing were sent south to reinforce the First Tank Army, which had just arrived in Kiev, and you ordered them to stand still. Are you planning to watch the 38th Army being annihilated by the Germans?"
Perhaps because he felt that there were serious mistakes in Rokossovsky's deployment, Vatutin said this with anger: "Have you ever thought about what will happen to the 38th Army once it is annihilated by the Germans? What impact will it have on the morale of our troops?”
"You are right, Comrade Vatutin." Rokossovsky was very tolerant of Vatutin's complaints, "If General Moskalenko's 38th Group Army is annihilated by the Germans, it will The morale and morale of the 1st Ukrainian Front have been adversely affected. However, are you so unsure of your own troops?"
Rokossovsky's words stopped Vatutin. Yes, am I so unsure of my troops? In any case, the 38th Group Army has four infantry divisions, several infantry brigades, tank brigades, artillery divisions, cavalry and other units. Even if it is attacked by the Germans, it cannot be completely wiped out in a short time.
What's more, to their south is Rybalko's 3rd Guards Tank Army, which has a tank corps and a mechanized corps and can provide necessary support to the 38th Army in difficulty at any time.
Seeing that Vatutin was silent, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade Vatutin, I understand your mood at this time. Seeing that the 38th Army is in danger but no troops are sent to rescue them, I feel the same It's very contradictory. But as senior commanders, we often cannot act emotionally. At this moment, sending General Katukov's First Tank Army to reinforce it can indeed rescue the 38th Army and slow down the German army's advance towards Kiev.
But after this battle, the First Tank Army will definitely pay a heavy price and needs to be replenished before it can participate in a large-scale counterattack against the German army. Nowadays, the reserve team that can be used in the base camp is also very limited. If we have to wait for our superiors to supplement us, the waiting time will be very long. "
Although Vatutin has made many mistakes in command this year, he is still an experienced commander after all. Naturally, he knows very well that occupying Kiev is only a starting point for the liberation of the entire Ukraine. If it cannot be done before the German army has completed its overall defense preparations, If we quickly advance deep into the German defenses, then this battle will be protracted.
"Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." At this time, Vatutin could only bite the bullet and admit that Rokossovsky's approach was undoubtedly the most correct. The 38th Army fought hard against the German troops attacking Kiev. After the enemy has lost a large amount of its effective forces, and then puts the effective forces that have been recuperating for a long time into the battle, it can easily crush the enemy's attack and take advantage of the opportunity to expand the results.
"Comrade Vatutin," Rokossovsky heard Vatutin's conciliatory tone from the other party's tone, and said with a smile: "Anyway, you know the army better. If I have any If you don’t do something right, feel free to point it out, and the two of us will discuss important matters.”