"General Bartov," Sokov was a little surprised when he heard what Bartov said. The other party had been stationed in the defense area for so long, but he didn't know that anyone had threatened the local residents, making them afraid to contact the Soviet army. After organizing the vocabulary in his mind, he said: "You can't recruit people because someone once threatened the local residents and told them not to cooperate with us. However, these residents were retaliated and naturally they did not dare to help. Our army.”
Regarding Sokov's statement, Batov was dubious: "General Sokov, if someone has really threatened the local residents and asked them not to cooperate with us, why are they helping the local residents you work with?" How much?"
Seeing that Batov expressed doubts about his statement, Sokov told the story about Vojisich Smazovsky and his son, and finally said: "The best way to destroy the enemy's conspiracy is to find someone It’s a good breakthrough. As long as someone is willing to work for you, others will slowly join in. Over time, there will be enough local residents to work for you.”
Sokov and Batov chatted for a long time. As soon as he hung up the phone, a new call came in. The caller this time was Rokossovsky. He heard Sokov's voice and asked in a complaining tone: "Misha, who are you talking to? Your phone has been blocked."
"I'm really sorry, Comrade Marshal, I didn't know you would call." Sokov quickly explained to Rokossovsky: "I was just talking to General Bartov, and he asked me why he didn't have a local The residents were willing to help them build fortifications, and then I explained it to them.”
"Well, the construction of fortifications by various troops is our current top priority." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "This will give the Germans the illusion that our troops will be stationed here for a long time. , but they don’t know that we are actively preparing for the attack.
The terrain we are going to fight in is very unique. Its right half, from Augustov to Lomza, is a forest and lake area, which is very unfavorable for troop movements. What is passable is the left half of the front area, but even moving forward here is not easy. It is covered with fortifications built by the enemy for many years. We must overcome the enemy's multiple defense zones. "
While listening to Rokossovsky's story, Sokov began to think about the purpose of what the other person said. After finally waiting for the other party to finish speaking, he said: "Comrade Marshal, if I guess correctly, you plan to attack the enemy from the left wing of the front army, right?"
"Yes, that's what I meant."
Although Sokov knew the specific time when the East Prussian campaign was launched, he still deliberately asked: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder when our offensive campaign will be launched?"
"Don't be anxious, Misha." Rokossovsky said: "Now the troops of the front have just been deployed. Not only are the troops unfamiliar with the environment, but they are also unfamiliar with each other. This is very detrimental to future cooperative operations. Anyway, we have to stay in the current area for a while. You have to use this time to send out manpower to conduct reconnaissance on the enemy's defense line. At the same time, you have to go to nearby troops to have a good relationship with them and prepare for your next operations. , is very beneficial.”
Rokossovsky's words made Sokov a little confused. After entering a new combat area, isn't it normal to send out scouts to conduct reconnaissance of the enemy's defense area? Why did Rokossovsky give special instructions to himself? Did he plan to let his troops take the main attack?
Also, he asked himself to go to the neighboring troops to move around more and become familiar with the other party's commanders. Why is this? You know, even if you are not familiar with the commanders of your neighboring troops, when a situation arises on the battlefield that requires mutual cooperation, will the other party refuse to save them?
With a series of questions, Sokov put down the phone, sat at the table, lit a cigarette, and silently thought about the purpose of Rokossovsky's call to him.
Ponijelin came over and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, what did the Marshal say on the phone?"
Sokov put out the cigarette butt, repeated what Rokossovsky had just said to Ponedelin, and finally asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, why do you think the Marshal said this to me inexplicably?" if?"
Ponyjelin thought for a while, then said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, I think your superiors may put more burdens on you, so they will let you have a good relationship with the commanders of the neighboring troops. Only in this way, when you take up a new position, Only when you are in a high position can you command and move them."
"How is this possible?" Sokov smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I am already the commander of a group army. Where can I be promoted? You can't let me be the commander of the front, right?"
"Perhaps it is really possible." Ponedelin said: "I heard a rumor some time ago that there was a controversy when the Supreme Command transferred you to the 1st Belarusian Front. Someone proposed that you be appointed as the Ukrainian commander. The commander of the Third Front Army, but you were denied, saying that you were too young and too inexperienced, and I am afraid that you will not be able to deter those senior commanders."
Sokov was dubious about Ponejelin's statement. In the war, there was a precedent for promoting generals with outstanding performance. However, many of these commanders who were forcibly promoted to the position of front army commander had limited abilities. , was dismissed from his post not long after he became the leader. Sokov knew only Lieutenant General Khozin who served as the commander of the Leningrad Front Army, and Lieutenant General Gordov who served as the commander of the Stalingrad Front Army.
Thinking of this, he shook his head and said to Ponijelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, even if my superiors appoint me to be the commander of any front, I think I will refuse."
Seeing the surprised expression on Ponejelin's face, he specifically added: "I know what my abilities are. As a commander of a group army, I am already a little out of my depth. When I become a commander of a front army, I think I might It’s hard to satisfy my superiors. Rather than being dismissed after two or three months, it’s better to simply be inappropriate.”
Hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin couldn't help laughing: "Comrade Commander, this is so interesting. Everyone else is eager to hold a higher position, but you are the only one who feels that your ability is not enough. And the thought of rejecting this appointment. I don’t think anyone else would have such an idea except you."
"As far as I know, someone actually resigned from the position of commander of the front army on his own initiative."
Ponijelin raised his eyebrows and then asked: "Who is it?"
"General Fedyuninsky." Sokov said: "I heard that at the beginning of the war, due to the critical situation in Leningrad, Marshal Zhukov was appointed as the commander of the Leningrad Front. At that time he went to Leningrad At that time, he brought two deputies - Lieutenant General Huozin and Major General Fedyuninsky.
When the situation in Leningrad stabilized and he was transferred back to Moscow, he recommended to the Stavka that Fedyuninsky should take over his post. However, Feijuninsky felt that his abilities were not enough. Less than a month after taking office, he took the initiative to apply to the Supreme Commander, and Huo Jin was appointed as the commander of the front army, while he went to the periphery to command a group army. "
"Oh, this is the first time I've heard of this."
Sokov did not want to study the reasons for Rokossovsky's words anymore, but called Sidorin and ordered: "Comrade Chief of Staff, inform the Director of the Reconnaissance Division and the Director of the Intelligence Division to send the most capable reconnaissance team to go deep into When conducting reconnaissance in the enemy's defense area, we must find ways to find out the enemy's troop deployment, because we will launch an attack there one day in the near future. The more we know about the enemy's defensive positions, the better we will know about the situation in the battle. The casualties you pay will be smaller. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sidorin replied: "I will convey your intention to the two division chiefs."
"Comrade Commander, there is something I want to talk to you about." When Sidorin called, Ponedelin said to Sokov: "After a long battle, the attrition of our troops has It’s very serious. Replenishment from superiors comes very slowly and rarely, and it is simply not enough to make up for the soldiers we lost in the battle.”
"Yes, it is indeed a pity." Sokov said with regret: "In Poland, the German army did not build many prisoner of war camps, so we wanted to make up for the lack of troops by rescuing captured comrades. Very unrealistic.”
"Then what should we do?" Ponejelin said in great embarrassment: "This is not our land, and there is no way to recruit new soldiers to replenish the troops."
"I think the only way is to rely on soldiers who have recovered and been discharged from the hospital to replenish the troops." Sokov said: "In addition, I will report the difficulties we are facing to Comrade Marshal at the appropriate time. Let’s talk and see if he can replenish us with a certain number of soldiers.”
Ponedelin knew very well that the reason why Sokov said it was the right time instead of making a request to Rokossovsky now was entirely because the entire troops under the Second Front had a shortage of soldiers. . He nodded and said, "I will call the director of the field hospital and ask him to arrange for the wounded to be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible."
In the past, Sokov would never have agreed to allow the wounded to be discharged from the hospital early because their injuries had not truly healed before they went to the battlefield to fight. If there were any sequelae, it would be a lifetime matter. But now his soldiers are scarce and cannot be replenished in time, so he can only place his last hope of replenishing his troops on the wounded who can recover and be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible.
While Sokov and Ponedelin were troubled by the shortage of troops, Rokossovsky and his chief of staff Bogolyubov, who were staying at the headquarters, were also troubled by the same thing. .
"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov said to Rokossovsky, "our troops are seriously undermanned. Only the 2nd Assault Army and the 5th Tank Army, which were transferred from the base camp reserve, have brought the troops close to full strength. Recently. The commanders of those army groups kept calling me, hoping that we could add some troops to them."
"I don't know how to recruit soldiers by spreading my beans. Where can I go to replenish their troops?" Rokossovsky said helplessly: "Next time they call, you can tell them that they need to go to the group military hospital and medical department." Officers and soldiers from the health battalion who have returned from injury will come in to supplement."
"What about the field hospital of the front?" Bogolyubov continued to ask: "Which unit should we send these wounded soldiers to?"
Rokossovsky thought for a while and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think there is a need to make rigid regulations on this matter. It just depends on which group of armies moves faster. Whoever can grab these wounded soldiers will belong to whom."
After Bogolyubov came out of Rokossovsky's office, he immediately found a phone and called the 48th Army Headquarters directly. When he heard someone speaking, he said bluntly: "I am General Bogolyubov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army. Please speak to General Ponedelin for me."
Soon, Ponedelin's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, dear Alexander Nikolayevich, I wonder if you called me to ask for something?"
Ponedelin and Bogolyubov had known each other before the war, and they had a good personal relationship. At this moment, Bogolyubov called to convey to Ponedelin what Rokossovsky said: " I heard that your army is facing a shortage of soldiers?"
"Yes, Alexander Nikolayevich!" Ponedelin felt that the other party would not ask about this matter for no reason, so he asked tentatively: "Why are you asking about this matter? Does the Front Army Headquarters intend to give it to you?" Shall we replenish our troops?"
"Hell, I don't have a reserve team in hand. Where can I replenish your troops?" Bogolyubov said in a low voice: "But I have a way to help you replenish some of your troops."
When Ponejelin heard that there was a way to replenish soldiers, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and asked repeatedly: "Tell me quickly, what kind of way is it, and how can we replenish soldiers?"
"I just talked about this with Comrade Marshal. He said that the Supreme Command may not replenish our troops in a short period of time. Therefore, the soldiers of the units under the front army should be those who have just returned from the group army field hospital or other health camps. The wounded returned to the team after recovery."
Ponijelin couldn't help but feel a little disappointed: "To be honest, the commander and I discussed the same issue not long ago. We felt that the wounded returning from field hospitals and health battalions were our only way to replenish our troops."
"It's too small, Ponejelin, your structure is too small." Bogolyubov said with a smile: "When it comes to using the wounded who have been discharged from injury to fill the vacancies of insufficient soldiers in the army, we can't just consider the group army field hospital. Or health camps, there are other units that can be considered.”
Hearing what Bogolyubov said, Ponedelin was stunned for a moment, and then he thought of a possibility: "Old man, you want to tell me that in addition to the wounded soldiers who can be discharged from the army field hospital and health workers, you can also To recruit wounded soldiers from the field hospital of the Front Army? Is my understanding correct?"
"Old friend, I didn't say anything. It's all your guess." Bogolyubov said jokingly on the other end of the phone: "If anyone asks, I will never admit it."
"But will there be any trouble if we recruit the wounded from the front army's field hospital?"
"What trouble can there be?" Bogolyubov added: "Comrade Marshal said that there are only so many wounded, and whoever gets it first will get it."
