"Thank you, I'm really grateful." With Fuming's promise, Sokov felt much more at ease. However, out of caution, he also specifically added: "If there is a chance, I would like to chat with you in person. ,May I?"
Regarding Sokov's request, Fu Ming was obviously embarrassed: "General Sokov, my whereabouts are unpredictable every day. It may not be easy for you to find me. If I see something wrong with you, you can contact Cogne. General Husband, just let him tell me."
From the tone of the other party's words, Sokov heard that he was politely rejecting him. Although he was full of regrets, he could only say helplessly: "Well, General Fuming, if I can't find you, I will ask the police to ask for help." General Nev conveyed this."
When Sokov put down the phone, Smirnov asked with some confusion: "Comrade Commander, even if the Germans break through our defenses from the south, they will still encounter friendly forces blocking them along the way. When they reach Hill 239, I am afraid that the combat effectiveness has become extremely weak and it is impossible to break through the defense line of the 41st Guards Division."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, when I called Colonel Sidorin just now, I already said that since the Germans have the possibility of breaking out to the south, they must take complete defensive measures." Sokov said: "And now The 41st Guards Division does not even have a decent fortification on Highland 239. If the enemy suddenly rushes to the high ground, the troops without fortification cover will not be able to block the enemy's impact. In this case, they can only rely on Powerful artillery fire to crush the enemy's attack."
After Sokov's explanation, Smirnov understood the other party's intention, nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I understand, you want to use powerful artillery fire to build a difficult line in front of our army's defensive position. A wall of fire that can be crossed prevents the enemy from advancing. Am I understanding correctly?"
"Very true." Sokov smiled and nodded, affirming: "That's what I meant."
After a pause, Sokov suddenly asked: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, who is the artillery commander of our army group?"
"Major General Tsarev."
"What, is it Major General Tsarev?" When Sokov heard the name, he couldn't help shouting in surprise: "Isn't he the military commissar of the group army?"
"Yes, he used to be the military commissar of the group army like General Gorokhov." Smirnov explained to him: "Later, the artillery commander unfortunately hit a mine and died on his way to the front. His superiors temporarily appointed him as the artillery commander of the group army."
Sokov felt very speechless about this arrangement from his superiors. You must know that Tsarev is only a political worker and not a military cadre. For him to serve as the commander of the artillery is simply playing the piano randomly. However, Sokov had just arrived, and even if he wanted to remove Tsarev, he could not find anyone to replace him for a while, so he could only keep him in this position.
Ponijelin, who was sitting aside, waited for the conversation between the two to come to an end and asked, "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to arrange for those students?"
"Yes, we still have 59 students." Sokov said to Smirnov: "These students are all from the intermediate commander training class. According to the original plan, half of them will stay at the front army headquarters as staff officers. positions; and some others serve as regimental commanders in the group army."
"Then what are your plans?" Smirnov asked: "Are you going to assign half of them to each regiment as regimental commanders?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please give me the name of the commander above the regimental level of the 41st Guards Division."
Smirnov agreed, took out a small book, flipped through a few pages, and began to read: "The commanders of the 41st Guards Division are Major General Kurishenko, political commissar Colonel Afanasi, and chief of staff Colonel Sidorin. , Colonel Papuchenko, commander of the 122nd Regiment, Colonel Starcha, commander of the 124th Regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Harin, commander of the 126th Regiment.”
"Papchenko and Starcha are both old acquaintances, but this is the first time I heard the name of the commander of the 126th Regiment." Sokov had an intuition that if the battle really started in his defense zone, Then the 41st Guards Division will face a fierce battle, and it is completely necessary to enrich their command team. "Who are the deputy commanders and chiefs of staff of each regiment?"
Sokov originally thought that Smirnov would pronounce some familiar names. Unexpectedly, the other party paused for a moment and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, this unit suffered heavy losses in the early battles. Not only the soldiers The casualties were huge, and even commanders at all levels lost a lot, so none of the three regiments had deputy commanders or chiefs of staff."
"Since these three Guards regiments do not have deputy commanders and chiefs of staff, then we will allocate people from among the people I brought to fill these positions." Sokov turned to Ponyjelin and said: "Pony General Jielin, I leave you solely responsible for this matter. Let them report to the 41st Guards Division as soon as possible, seize the time to familiarize themselves with the troops and their own defense areas, and make necessary battle preparations."
"What about the rest?" Ponejelin asked.
"Let them stay in the headquarters for the time being, and then arrange for them to take up posts when suitable positions are available." After Sokov said this, he asked: "Are there any questions?"
"Military rank, what should we do about the issue of military rank?" Ponejelin raised a key question: "You know, the military ranks of the cadets are all majors or captains. If they are allowed to serve as regimental commanders, is the military rank a bit too low? ?”
Although Sokov knew in his heart that during the Battle of Stalingrad, Chuikov directly promoted a lieutenant colonel to a colonel, which meant that he also had the right to promote the cadets. However, out of caution, he specifically asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to promote these accompanying students. Is it possible?"
"Comrade Commander, of course you can." After hearing Sokov's question, Smirnov said solemnly: "But the most you can do is promote them to the rank of colonel and then report to the front army headquarters. If Whoever you want to be promoted to general must first apply to the front army headquarters, who will report it to the Supreme Command, and the superiors will decide whether the person is qualified for promotion to general."
"So that's it." After Sokov figured out the rules of the game, he said to Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, please inform the students that from now on, all the students will be promoted to one rank. , the captain was promoted to major, and the major was promoted to lieutenant colonel.”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin replied with a smile on his face: "I think the students will be delighted when they hear this news."
"Thank you, I'm really grateful." With Fuming's promise, Sokov felt much more at ease. However, out of caution, he also specifically added: "If there is a chance, I would like to chat with you in person. ,May I?"
Regarding Sokov's request, Fu Ming was obviously embarrassed: "General Sokov, my whereabouts are unpredictable every day. It may not be easy for you to find me. If I see something wrong with you, you can contact Cogne. General Husband, just let him tell me."
From the tone of the other party's words, Sokov heard that he was politely rejecting him. Although he was full of regrets, he could only say helplessly: "Well, General Fuming, if I can't find you, I will ask the police to ask for help." General Nev conveyed this."
When Sokov put down the phone, Smirnov asked with some confusion: "Comrade Commander, even if the Germans break through our defenses from the south, they will still encounter friendly forces blocking them along the way. When they reach Hill 239, I am afraid that the combat effectiveness has become extremely weak and it is impossible to break through the defense line of the 41st Guards Division."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, when I called Colonel Sidorin just now, I already said that since the Germans have the possibility of breaking out to the south, they must take complete defensive measures." Sokov said: "And now The 41st Guards Division does not even have a decent fortification on Highland 239. If the enemy suddenly rushes to the high ground, the troops without fortification cover will not be able to block the enemy's impact. In this case, they can only rely on Powerful artillery fire to crush the enemy's attack."
After Sokov's explanation, Smirnov understood the other party's intention, nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I understand, you want to use powerful artillery fire to build a difficult line in front of our army's defensive position. A wall of fire that can be crossed prevents the enemy from advancing. Am I understanding correctly?"
"Very true." Sokov smiled and nodded, affirming: "That's what I meant."
After a pause, Sokov suddenly asked: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, who is the artillery commander of our army group?"
"Major General Tsarev."
"What, is it Major General Tsarev?" When Sokov heard the name, he couldn't help shouting in surprise: "Isn't he the military commissar of the group army?"
"Yes, he used to be the military commissar of the group army like General Gorokhov." Smirnov explained to him: "Later, the artillery commander unfortunately hit a mine and died on his way to the front. His superiors temporarily appointed him as the artillery commander of the group army."
Sokov felt very speechless about this arrangement from his superiors. You must know that Tsarev is only a political worker and not a military cadre. For him to serve as the commander of the artillery is simply playing the piano randomly. However, Sokov had just arrived, and even if he wanted to remove Tsarev, he could not find anyone to replace him for a while, so he could only keep him in this position.
Ponijelin, who was sitting aside, waited for the conversation between the two to come to an end and asked, "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to arrange for those students?"
"Yes, we still have 59 students." Sokov said to Smirnov: "These students are all from the intermediate commander training class. According to the original plan, half of them will stay at the front army headquarters as staff officers. positions; and some others serve as regimental commanders in the group army."
"Then what are your plans?" Smirnov asked: "Are you going to assign half of them to each regiment as regimental commanders?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please give me the name of the commander above the regimental level of the 41st Guards Division."
Smirnov agreed, took out a small book, flipped through a few pages, and began to read: "The commanders of the 41st Guards Division are Major General Kurishenko, political commissar Colonel Afanasi, and chief of staff Colonel Sidorin. , Colonel Papuchenko, commander of the 122nd Regiment, Colonel Starcha, commander of the 124th Regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Harin, commander of the 126th Regiment.”
"Papchenko and Starcha are both old acquaintances, but this is the first time I heard the name of the commander of the 126th Regiment." Sokov had an intuition that if the battle really started in his defense zone, Then the 41st Guards Division will face a fierce battle, and it is completely necessary to enrich their command team. "Who are the deputy commanders and chiefs of staff of each regiment?"
Sokov originally thought that Smirnov would pronounce some familiar names. Unexpectedly, the other party paused for a moment and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, this unit suffered heavy losses in the early battles. Not only the soldiers The casualties were huge, and even commanders at all levels lost a lot, so none of the three regiments had deputy commanders or chiefs of staff."
"Since these three Guards regiments do not have deputy commanders and chiefs of staff, then we will allocate people from among the people I brought to fill these positions." Sokov turned to Ponyjelin and said: "Pony General Jielin, I leave you solely responsible for this matter. Let them report to the 41st Guards Division as soon as possible, seize the time to familiarize themselves with the troops and their own defense areas, and make necessary battle preparations."
"What about the rest?" Ponejelin asked.
"Let them stay in the headquarters for the time being, and then arrange for them to take up posts when suitable positions are available." After Sokov said this, he asked: "Are there any questions?"
"Military rank, what should we do about the issue of military rank?" Ponejelin raised a key question: "You know, the military ranks of the cadets are all majors or captains. If they are allowed to serve as regimental commanders, is the military rank a bit too low? ?”
Although Sokov knew in his heart that during the Battle of Stalingrad, Chuikov directly promoted a lieutenant colonel to a colonel, which meant that he also had the right to promote the cadets. However, out of caution, he specifically asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to promote these accompanying students. Is it possible?"
"Comrade Commander, of course you can." After hearing Sokov's question, Smirnov said solemnly: "But the most you can do is promote them to the rank of colonel and then report to the front army headquarters. If Whoever you want to be promoted to general must first apply to the front army headquarters, who will report it to the Supreme Command, and the superiors will decide whether the person is qualified for promotion to general."
"So that's it." After Sokov figured out the rules of the game, he said to Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, please inform the students that from now on, all the students will be promoted to one rank. , the captain was promoted to major, and the major was promoted to lieutenant colonel.”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin replied with a smile on his face: "I think the students will be delighted when they hear this news." "So that's it." Sokov figured it out. After playing the rules of the game, he said to Ponejelin: "General Ponejelin, please inform the students that from now on, all the students will be promoted to one rank, with the captain promoted to major and the major promoted to lieutenant colonel."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin replied with a smile on his face: "I think the students will be delighted when they hear this news."
