Five days later, all units of the Second Ukrainian Front, including the Sokov Combat Group, received an order to cease operations personally issued by Konev, and all moved to defense on the spot, seizing the time to rest and replenish.
On the day the order was issued, Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, came to the headquarters. After meeting Sokov, he shook hands and asked Sokov: "Is there a quiet place?"
Sokov knew that the other party must have something important to explain, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, do you plan to talk to me in the headquarters, or do you want to talk to me outside?"
"Talk outside?" Zaharov asked in surprise, "Where can we talk outside?"
"For example, in a cafe or a tavern in the city." Sokov said: "As long as I send someone to seal the place in advance, no one will disturb the conversation between the two of us."
"I think it's better to forget it." Zaharov thought for a moment, then waved his hands and said: "We are talking about official business, and it is not suitable to talk outside. I think it is better to find a suitable one in your headquarters. Place."
Sokov thought for a while and realized that the most suitable place for the conversation was the small conference room upstairs. As long as he sent someone to guard the door and no one was allowed to enter, no one would know the content of his conversation with Zakharov. .
The two came to the conference room and sat on both sides of the long conference table. Koshkin brought them tea, then exited the conference room and closed the door.
"Comrade Sokov," Zakharov said as soon as the door closed, "I believe you already know that Marshal Konev is about to be transferred to the First Ukrainian Front to serve as the commander of the front, right? "
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "I have known it for a long time."
"Before Marshal Konev was officially transferred to the position of commander of the First Front Army, he specifically asked me to come over and ask you if you are really willing to go with him?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Regarding Zakharov's question, Sokov gave a positive answer: "When the Marshal asked for my opinion some time ago, I made it clear that I was willing to follow him to Ukraine. One side army. What, is there any problem?"
"Now that your going to the First Ukrainian Front has been confirmed, what we want to talk about next is your work arrangements." Zakharov took a sip of the tea in front of him and continued: "According to the Supreme Court, According to the command, you have three choices."
"Three options?!" Sokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I wonder which three options are there?"
Zakharov raised a finger: "First, take over the position of Lieutenant General Pukhov and serve as the commander of the 13th Army."
Then he raised a second finger: "Since the superiors planned to reassign the 27th Army to the 1st Ukrainian Front, the superiors once considered letting you officially take over Trofimenko's position and serve as the commander of the army. job."
"This is impossible." When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but interjected: "Although the 27th Army is a unit I have commanded before, it is now only part of the combat group. If I follow the orders of my superiors, I took over the post of General Trofimenko and assumed the position of commander of the 27th Army. Maybe others will think that I made some mistake and was demoted by my superiors."
"Yes, Comrade Sokov, you have considered it very carefully." Zakharov nodded and said, "When Marshal Konev received the call, he directly rejected the other party's plan."
When Sokov learned that Konev had turned him down for an appointment that might have damaged his reputation, he was somewhat grateful to him. He looked at Zakharov and continued to ask: "Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I wonder what the third option is?"
"Third, it is to take over the position of Lieutenant General Zhimachenko and serve as the commander of the 40th Group Army." Zakharov may be worried that Sokov does not understand the situation, so he took the initiative to introduce him: "This unit turns out to be the Mozambican army. Commanded by General Skalenko, the performance on the battlefield was pretty good. But since General Moskalenko was transferred, the combat effectiveness of this unit began to decline, which made the superiors very dissatisfied, so they planned to find a A capable commander, come and command this army.
In the Supreme Command, some people suggested that Moskalenko return to command this force, but this was rejected because the 38th Army currently commanded by General Moskalenko was also inseparable from him. It was under these circumstances that you were thought of and suggested for this important position. "
Sokov was thinking in his mind that Pukhov had served as the commander of the 13th Army since January 1942. Regardless of his record, he could always stay in this position, which proved that his superiors valued him very much. If he just asked to go to the 13th Army to take over his position without any explanation, I am afraid that even after he takes office, he will encounter resistance from the troops below.
On the contrary, since the transfer of Moskalenko, the 40th Group Army has achieved lackluster results. Commanders at all levels have complained. They definitely hope that someone new will take over Zhimachenko's position. If I choose to go to the 40th Group Army, my work may go very smoothly.
After thinking about it a bit, Sokov looked at Zakharov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I have thought about it. I am going to go to the 40th Group Army and replace General Zhimachenko as the commander of the army."
"Comrade Sokov." Seeing Sokov making a decision so quickly, Zakharov was secretly surprised, but couldn't help but ask: "Are you really sure?" Five days later, All units of the Second Ukrainian Front, including the Sokov Combat Group, received an order to cease operations personally issued by Konev, and all moved to defense on the spot, seizing the time to rest and replenish.
On the day the order was issued, Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, came to the headquarters. After meeting Sokov, he shook hands and asked Sokov: "Is there a quiet place?"
Sokov knew that the other party must have something important to explain, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, do you plan to talk to me in the headquarters, or do you want to talk to me outside?"
"Talk outside?" Zaharov asked in surprise, "Where can we talk outside?"
"For example, in a cafe or a tavern in the city." Sokov said: "As long as I send someone to seal the place in advance, no one will disturb the conversation between the two of us."
"I think it's better to forget it." Zaharov thought for a moment, then waved his hands and said: "We are talking about official business, and it is not suitable to talk outside. I think it is better to find a suitable one in your headquarters. Place."
Sokov thought for a while and realized that the most suitable place for the conversation was the small conference room upstairs. As long as he sent someone to guard the door and no one was allowed to enter, no one would know the content of his conversation with Zakharov. .
The two came to the conference room and sat on both sides of the long conference table. Koshkin brought them tea, then exited the conference room and closed the door.
"Comrade Sokov," Zakharov said as soon as the door closed, "I believe you already know that Marshal Konev is about to be transferred to the First Ukrainian Front to serve as the commander of the front, right? "
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "I have known it for a long time."
"Before Marshal Konev was officially transferred to the position of commander of the First Front Army, he specifically asked me to come over and ask you if you are really willing to go with him?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Regarding Zakharov's question, Sokov gave a positive answer: "When the Marshal asked for my opinion some time ago, I made it clear that I was willing to follow him to Ukraine. One side of the army. What, is there any problem?"
"Now that your going to the First Ukrainian Front has been confirmed, what we want to talk about next is your work arrangements." Zakharov took a sip of the tea in front of him and continued: "According to the Supreme Court, According to the command, you have three choices."
"Three options?!" Sokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I wonder which three options are there?"
Zakharov raised a finger: "First, take over the position of Lieutenant General Pukhov and serve as the commander of the 13th Army."
Then he raised a second finger: "Since the superiors planned to reassign the 27th Army to the 1st Ukrainian Front, the superiors once considered letting you officially take over Trofimenko's position and serve as the commander of the army. job."
"This is impossible." When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but interjected: "Although the 27th Army is a unit I have commanded before, it is now only part of the combat group. If I follow the orders of my superiors, I took over the post of General Trofimenko and assumed the position of commander of the 27th Army. Maybe others will think that I made some mistake and was demoted by my superiors."
"Yes, Comrade Sokov, you have considered it very carefully." Zakharov nodded and said, "When Marshal Konev received the call, he directly rejected the other party's plan."
When Sokov learned that Konev had turned him down for an appointment that might have damaged his reputation, he was somewhat grateful to him. He looked at Zakharov and continued to ask: "Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I wonder what the third option is?"
"Third, it is to take over the position of Lieutenant General Zhimachenko and serve as the commander of the 40th Group Army." Zakharov may be worried that Sokov does not understand the situation, so he took the initiative to introduce him: "This unit turns out to be the Mozambican army. Commanded by General Skalenko, the performance on the battlefield was pretty good. But since General Moskalenko was transferred, the combat effectiveness of this unit began to decline, which made the superiors very dissatisfied, so they planned to find a A capable commander, come and command this army.
In the Supreme Command, some people suggested that Moskalenko return to command this force, but this was rejected because the 38th Army currently commanded by General Moskalenko was also inseparable from him. It was under these circumstances that you were thought of and suggested for this important position. "
Sokov was thinking in his mind that Pukhov had served as the commander of the 13th Army since January 1942. Regardless of his record, he could always stay in this position, which proved that his superiors valued him very much. If he just asked to go to the 13th Army to take over his position without any explanation, I am afraid that even after he takes office, he will encounter resistance from the troops below.
On the contrary, since the transfer of Moskalenko, the 40th Group Army has achieved lackluster results. Commanders at all levels have complained. They definitely hope that someone new will take over Zhimachenko's position. If I choose to go to the 40th Group Army, my work may go very smoothly.
After thinking about it a bit, Sokov looked at Zakharov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I have thought about it. I am going to go to the 40th Group Army and replace General Zhimachenko as the commander of the army."
"Comrade Sokov." Seeing Sokov making a decision so quickly, Zakharov was secretly surprised, but couldn't help but ask: "Are you really sure?" Five days later, All units of the Second Ukrainian Front, including the Sokov Combat Group, received an order to cease operations personally issued by Konev, and all moved to defense on the spot, seizing the time to rest and replenish.
On the day the order was issued, Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, came to the headquarters. After meeting Sokov, he shook hands and asked Sokov: "Is there a quiet place?"
Sokov knew that the other party must have something important to explain, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, do you plan to talk to me in the headquarters, or do you want to talk to me outside?"
"Talk outside?" Zaharov asked in surprise, "Where can we talk outside?"
"For example, in a cafe or a pub in the city." Sokov said: "As long as I send someone to seal the place in advance, no one will disturb the conversation between the two of us."
"I think it's better to forget it." Zaharov thought for a moment, then waved his hands and said: "We are talking about official business, and it is not suitable to talk outside. I think it is better to find a suitable one in your headquarters. Place."
Sokov thought for a while and realized that the most suitable place to talk was the small conference room upstairs. As long as he sent someone to guard the door and no one was allowed to enter, no one would know the content of his conversation with Zakharov. .
The two came to the conference room and sat on both sides of the long conference table. Koshkin brought them tea, then exited the conference room and closed the door.
"Comrade Sokov," Zakharov said as soon as the door closed, "I believe you already know that Marshal Konev is about to be transferred to the First Ukrainian Front to serve as the commander of the front, right? "
Zakharov said: "Before Marshal Konev was officially transferred to the position of commander of the First Front Army, he specifically asked me to come over and ask you if you are really willing to go with him?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Regarding Zakharov's question, Sokov gave an affirmative answer: "When the Marshal asked for my opinion some time ago, I made it clear that I was willing to follow him to Ukraine. One side of the army. What, is there any problem?"
