Regarding Sokov's proposal, Rokossovsky only hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and refused: "Misha, thank you for your kindness. I don't know when Marshal Zhukov will take over the command of the army, so I can't for the time being. Just leave here casually.”
Seeing that Rokossovsky was unwilling to go to his own unit, Sokov no longer persuaded him, but asked tentatively: "Regarding your dismissal from the 1st Belarusian Front, what can I tell other members of the headquarters? Mention it?"
Rokossovsky glanced at Ponejelin and Sidorin in the parking lot again, nodded slowly, and said: "Okay. Tell them early so that they can be mentally prepared to avoid the unit being suddenly assigned. They may become resistant when the Second Front takes command.”
After chatting for a few more words, Sokov said goodbye to Rokossovsky and turned to the parking lot, where he met Ponedelin and Sidorin.
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin looked at Rokossovsky standing in the distance and asked curiously, "I wonder what the marshal said to you. It seems to me that you have been chatting for a long time."
Sokov sighed softly, and then said to Ponejelin and Sidorin: "Something unexpected happened. Get in the car first, and I will tell you slowly on the way."
After the car traveled a certain distance, Sokov suddenly said: "Marshal Rokossovsky will soon no longer be the commander of the 1st Belarusian Front."
As soon as these words came out, it was immediately shocking. Even the driver couldn't help but shudder, causing the car body to twist. Scared, Sidorin shouted to him: "Drive carefully!"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The driver quickly sat up straight, gripped the steering wheel tightly, stared ahead, and continued driving with concentration.
"What's going on?" Ponejelin had experienced the Great Purge era, and he also knew that Rokossovsky had been arrested and imprisoned, and even almost shot, because he heard that Rokossovsky was After Key was dismissed from his post as commander of the front army, many bad associations inevitably arose: "Is it possible that Marshal Rokossovsky was dismissed because he made some mistakes?"
Ponejelin's words were an introduction. Before Sokov could speak, Sidorin began to think: "If there is any fault, it is that we did not capture Warsaw from the Germans. But this cannot be blamed on us. , you must know that the Krajov Army, which led the uprising, strictly blocked the news from us. It launched the uprising on the first day of August and did not notify us through some special channels until mid-September. Even if we wanted to help them, It’s a little too late…”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the intelligence is not what you imagined." Seeing that the two misunderstood what he meant, Sokov quickly explained to them: "Marshal Rokossovsky was transferred to the Second Front Army as commander. , he was not dismissed because of any mistakes he made."
Knowing that Rokossovsky was just demoted, Ponedelin and Sidorin felt a little more at ease, but they were still a little surprised and said: "Comrade Commander, why did the superiors do this at such a critical time?" , what about transferring Marshal Rokossovsky from a primary position to a secondary one? You must know that according to the current development of the situation, the troops attacking Berlin in the future will definitely be our First Front Army. If he goes to the Second Front The Second Front means that the honor of capturing Berlin has nothing to do with him."
In fact, there are different opinions on why Rokossovsky was suddenly transferred. But the main theory is that the reason for his transfer was because of his Polish origin. Stalin wanted to give the honor of liberating Berlin to a real Russian, and the person who echoed this standard was Zhukov.
Of course, Sokov would not dare to tell Ponyjelin and Sidorin casually about this statement of later generations. If it spread and let others know, he would not be able to live with it. So he said euphemistically: "I think the reason why the Supreme Command made such a decision at this moment must be based on their overall consideration. Our level is not enough, so don't worry about it. No matter who we accept the command, the mission remains the same." It was to defeat the German invaders.”
Hearing this, Sidorin asked Sokov again: "I wonder who the High Command plans to send to replace Marshal Rokossovsky?"
"Zhukov," Sokov replied: "The Supreme Command has decided that Marshal Zhukov will succeed Marshal Rokossovsky as commander."
After learning that the new commander who was about to take office was Zhukov, both Ponedelin and Sidorin breathed a sigh of relief. In their minds, the only high-ranking commander who can be compared with Rokossovsky is Zhukov, and the new commander who is about to take office is someone they trust, so that would be perfect.
"If Marshal Rokossovsky is to be transferred to the Second Front, will the superiors allocate part of the troops to his command?" Ponedelin asked cautiously: "Should our army stay or follow Rokossov?" Marshal Ski went to new units.”
Since Ponejelin asked, Sokov did not hide anything and said truthfully: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if nothing happens, our group army will follow Marshal Rokossovsky to the Second Front and then take charge of it." Operations in East Prussia.”
"In addition to our army group, what other troops will be included?" Ponejelin continued to ask.
Sokov remembered that the 48th, 65th and 70th Army Groups that were now in the First Front Army were all on the list in the Second Belarusian Front Army he saw in later generations, so he said cautiously: "According to my estimation , in addition to our army group, I am afraid that General Batov’s 65th Group Army and General Popov’s 70th Group Army will all join the Second Front with Marshal Rokossovsky.”
After hearing this, Ponejelin nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, the three armies you mentioned are all on the right wing of the First Front Army, and it makes sense to be placed under the command of the Second Front Army. It seems that Our next main enemy is the Germans in East Prussia."
"Yes." Sidorin said with emotion: "After attending the meeting today, I thought we would rush directly from Poland to Berlin, but it seems there is no chance."
"Don't worry, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov remembered that the troops that finally entered Berlin were not only the 1st Belarusian Front commanded by Zhukov, but also the 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by Konev, as well as Rokossovs. Key's Second Front, so he comforted Sidorin and said: "When we occupy the East Prussia area, we can turn around and attack Berlin. I think it is completely late. After all, whether it is from Königsberg to Berlin or from Warsaw to Berlin , are only more than 600 kilometers away.”
"That's different." Sidorin shook his head and said: "We have to attack northeast first, capture Königsberg, and then turn to Berlin. This trip has been thousands of kilometers. I don't think there is anything we can do. Arriving in Berlin before the troops of the 1st Front.”
"Okay, don't think about it so much." Sokov waved his hand at Sido and said, "Let's think about how we should teach the Germans a lesson before leaving the existing defense zone."
After the three returned to the headquarters, Sidorin asked the staff officer on duty: "Did anything big happen while we were away?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The staff officer replied respectfully: "General Onupriyenko, commander of the 6th Guards Division, called and said that his troops had occupied a small village near the defense area."
"Oh, we have occupied a small village near the defense area." When Sidorin heard this, his face suddenly became a little happy: "This is good news. Did he say anything else?"
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." The staff officer shook his head: "I only said that I captured a village, and then nothing else."
"Okay, go and do your work." After Sidorin dismissed the staff, he frowned and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, something is wrong. Based on my understanding of General Onupryenko, even if He will also make a big deal about seizing a settlement, why is he so low-key this time?"
Ponejelin said: "Maybe it's because we are not at the headquarters, so he simply reported the results of the battle."
"I'll call and ask," Sidorin said. "I always feel like something is wrong."
Soon, Sidorin got through to the headquarters of the 6th Guards Division. He asked straight to the point: "General Onupriyenko, I heard that you captured a village near the defense area. Is it true?"
"It's true, Comrade Chief of Staff." Onuprienko said calmly.
"General Onupryenko, I think something is wrong with you." Sidorin asked tentatively: "Did something happen?"
Onuprienko was silent for a while, and finally said: "The commander of the first battalion of the 4th Guards Regiment died."
Hearing that a battalion commander of the 4th Guards Regiment had died, although Sidorin felt a little regretful, he still said to Onupriyenko: "General Onupriyenko, it is normal to have casualties in battle. You There’s no need to be sad about this.”
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Onupriyenko's voice suddenly became deeper: "If it weren't for him, I'm afraid I would have told him that he was in that village."
When Sidorin heard this, he was shocked and asked hurriedly: "General Onupriyenko, what is going on? Please tell me quickly."
Sokov vaguely heard something, so he came over and asked with concern: "What's going on? What happened?"
"General Onupryenko," Sidorin said into the microphone: "Comrade Commander is by my side. Please tell us what happened today. We all want to know what happened."
"That's it," Onupryenko began to tell his story knowing that Sokov was beside Sidorin: "Today I received a report that the German troops were retreating in a village close to our defense area. I immediately sent people to conduct reconnaissance, and found that this was indeed the case, so I personally led the 4th Guards Regiment to attack the village.
The Germans only set up a defense line outside the village. After being attacked by our troops, they withdrew from the battle. In this way, we successfully occupied the entire village with only slight resistance.
At that time, Lieutenant Colonel Ma Daqiang, the leader of the 4th Guards Regiment, and I were about to enter the village, but we were stopped by the battalion commander. He said that the situation in the village was unknown and we could not enter without permission. He was going to lead people into the village to search for the remaining enemies and let us stay. Waiting outside the village. After confirming that there are no traces of enemies in the village, it will not be too late to notify us to enter the village.
After getting my permission, he led a dozen soldiers towards the village. Unexpectedly, less than a hundred meters away, there was a sudden "boom", and a puff of smoke rose up from where he was, and people were blown into the air. Many of the soldiers following him were lifted up by the blast of air. turn. Since I didn't hear the sound of the cannon being discharged, I guessed it was a mine.
Seeing this, Ma Daqiang quickly ordered someone to hand over the engineers to clear the mines in the village first. Before the engineers arrived, the commanders and soldiers who entered the village and carried a battalion commander came to the entrance of the village. When I went over to check, I found that he had already died. This mine killed three of us and injured five. If he hadn't prevented Lieutenant Colonel Ma Daqiang and I from entering the village, it would have been the two of us who died. "
After figuring out what happened, Sidorin felt regretful but also very fortunate. If the battalion commander had not insisted on letting Onupriyenko and Lieutenant Colonel Madaqiang stay at the entrance of the village, then the 6th Guards Division would have There is a possibility of losing a division commander.
"General Onupryenko," Sidorin said earnestly: "Comrade Commander once issued an order that division commanders are not allowed to run to the front casually, just because they are worried about what danger you will encounter. It's better for you, just now The captured village has not even had time to eliminate the remnants of the enemy, and you want to enter the village yourself, which is simply nonsense."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I was wrong." It may be that the sacrifice of his subordinates made Onupriyenko feel very guilty. He admitted his mistake to Sidorin: "I will never disobey my superiors casually in the future. He entered the battlefield without permission according to the order.”
"Okay, this is your first offense, and we won't pursue it." Sidorin said with a serious expression: "But next time if you randomly run to the front and take risks, just wait to be punished."
After Sidorin put down the phone, Sokov said thoughtfully: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am thinking about one thing. Maybe we have fought so smoothly in recent months that many commanders and fighters have underestimated the enemy." Thoughts. For example, the case of General Onupriyenko is very illustrative. A village that has just been captured cannot be entered immediately, let alone a division commander, even a regiment commander. At least After the village is completely controlled by our army, it will not be too late to go in and check."
After Sidorin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he nodded and said: "I understand, Comrade Commander. I suggest that at the appropriate time, a meeting of commanders above the regiment level be held to give everyone a good shake so that they will not As for the thought of underestimating the enemy."
"I think there may be no chance." Sokov shook his head and said: "Comrade Marshal may leave at any time. In other words, our troops don't know when they will leave, and there is no chance to hold such a meeting. I think so Well, you'd better call the commanders of each division and give them a good beating to prevent them from making similar mistakes in the future."
Hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin suddenly thought of something important: "Comrade Commander, if it is really as you analyzed, the three armies on the right wing are to be transferred to the Second Front, then our army Will the troops you belong to also change?"
