"Comrade Military Commissar, what you said is half right." After Sokov waited for Lunev to finish speaking, he interrupted: "Marshal Konev's troops will definitely not be the first to enter Berlin, that's for sure. But you It is not true that we were the first to enter Berlin."
Luniev was shocked when he heard this, and then asked: "Misha, why is this?"
"Don't forget, why the superiors asked Marshal Zhukov to replace Marshal Rokossovsky, it's just because he has Polish blood." Sokov said cautiously: "I think the Supreme Command's It means that the honor of being the first to enter Berlin should be reserved for the real Russians. And Marshal Zhukov happens to meet this standard, so I think the first unit to enter Berlin must be Marshal Zhukov's First Belarusian Front. "
"No way?!" Lunev expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "Judging from the current situation, the German resistance is obviously much weaker on our way forward. I am confident that , our 2nd Belorussian Front will be the first unit to enter the glass."
Seeing that Luniev was so stubborn, Sokov was unwilling to argue with him, lest he hurt the harmony between them. "Comrade Military Commissar, let's not argue on this matter. Soon, time will confirm whether the speculation is correct or wrong."
"Okay, Misha, let's speak with the facts." Lunev said unconvinced: "I believe that what I said will be confirmed in at least half a year."
Sokov calculated in his mind that in three and a half months, the Germans would announce their unconditional surrender. He couldn't wait half a year. Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "Comrade Military Commissar, do you have so little confidence in our troops? It actually takes half a year to reach Berlin."
"According to your analysis, how long will it take for us to reach Berlin?"
"Three to four months," Sokov said. "I think our troops will be outside the city before summer comes."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Ponejelin was the first to agree: "There are various signs that the enemy's main force has been attracted to the East Prussia area, and on our next offensive route, the German resistance is weak. . And now that the morale of our army is strong, the next attack will be extremely smooth, so the commander said that it is entirely possible for us to reach the outside of Berlin within three or four months."
"It would be good to arrive in Berlin early." Runev said with a sneer: "A few years ago, there was a self-righteous mustache who thought he could review his troops in Red Square, but his millions of troops were The city of Moscow suffered a bloody blow. Now the situation has turned, and it is finally our turn to attack. I believe that it will not be long before our troops can hold a victory parade in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin."
"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right." Sokov gave Runev a thumbs-up: "We are not Germans. We will not sink outside their capital. On the contrary, we will enter them." capital, a military parade was held in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate."
"The Brandenburg Gate is also called the Arc de Triomphe, and it is also related to Napoleon." Lunev said: "When Napoleon arrived in Berlin, the mayor of Berlin handed over the key to the city to Napoleon here and admitted his defeat. Since the French could reach Berlin back then, our country, which had defeated Napoleon in France, would naturally be able to reach Berlin as well."
"As far as I know, there are three triumphal arches in the world, and coincidentally, they are all related to Napoleon." Ponejelin said.
Sokov didn't know much about this kind of thing, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, tell me, what's going on with the three triumphal arches?"
"The Military Commissioner has just talked about the origin of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, so I won't say more." Ponejelin said: "The Arc de Triomphe in France was built to celebrate the victory of the French army; and in Leningrad The Arc de Triomphe was built by our ancestors to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon. Unfortunately, this Arc de Triomphe was demolished due to various reasons."
After listening to Ponejelin's explanation, Sokov realized that he had made a trial error. There is also a triumphal arch in Victory Park in Moscow. He always thought that this triumphal arch was
Built to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, it turned out that the real Arc de Triomphe was built in what is now St. Petersburg, but was later demolished.
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov said to Ponedelin: "Although the triumphal arch in Leningrad has been demolished, don't be disappointed. I believe that when the day of victory of the war, we will still be in Moscow, building Build a grand triumphal arch to commemorate our victory over the German invaders."
"Misha is right," Lunev said: "Although the Arc de Triomphe in Leningrad has been demolished, after we win the Great Patriotic War, it will definitely be in Moscow or other cities. Build a new triumphal arch."
When the discussion was at its most intense, Sidorin raised his hand and asked curiously: "Comrade commanders, let me ask a question."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, if you have any questions, just ask them." Sokov said with a smile, "I think everyone present will give you a satisfactory answer."
"St. Petersburg, no, it's the Arc de Triomphe in Leningrad. Why was it demolished?"
Sidorin's words stunned everyone. Everyone knew that the Arc de Triomphe in Leningrad was demolished, but the specific reason why it was demolished was unknown to everyone.
Just when everyone looked embarrassed, Sokov remembered the information he had read in later generations and said quickly: "Comrades, I know the reason."
"Oh, Comrade Commander knows the reason." Sidorin said with some urgency: "Then please tell me quickly the reason for demolishing the Arc de Triomphe."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I just heard that it needs to be verified whether it is confirmed or not." Sokov said to Sidorin: "It is said that the city planners at that time said that the existence of the Arc de Triomphe affected the city's traffic, and ordered the demolition of the Arc de Triomphe. . But when he arrived in France for a visit, he unexpectedly discovered that French vehicles pass by both sides of the Arc de Triomphe instead of underneath it. Therefore, the existence of the Arc de Triomphe will not affect the city's traffic at all."
"What, the Arc de Triomphe in Leningrad was demolished because all our vehicles passed under the Arc de Triomphe, causing traffic jams." Sidorin said in surprise. "As a result, the city planners used the Arc de Triomphe to affect the city. This great building was demolished for reasons of internal traffic."
"Misha, is everything you said true?" Lunev also asked in surprise: "Where did you know about this?"
Sokov smiled slightly and said, "I just said it, and I heard about it. As for whether this is true or not, I really don't know."
"Oh, so that's it." Lunev nodded and said regretfully: "It would be such a shame if the Arc de Triomphe was demolished for this reason."
"Comrade Commander, suppose we launch an attack on Berlin." Sidorin changed the topic to a new direction: "How long do you think it will take us to take this city?"
Sokov did not answer the question immediately, but asked instead: "What do you think, Comrade Chief of Staff?"
Sidorin thought for a while and replied: "I think it will take half a year anyway. Think about how long the Germans fought with us in Stalingrad, at least more than half a year. But in our army's Under the stubborn defense, the Germans were unable to completely occupy the city. As a result, after our troops were assembled, they were completely wiped out by us, and even their Marshal Paulus became our prisoner."
Tisidolin reminded Stalingrad, and Ponedelin said with emotion: "When I was in Moscow, I heard many people involved tell the story of the battle to defend Stalingrad. It is said that each officer only has 72 hours to survive. A warrior only has 24 hours."
"Yes, the battle was quite tragic." As an eyewitness of the Battle of Stalingrad, Sokov said: "At that time, my troops were stationed at Mamayev Heights. Over the past few months, the members of the troops changed several times. , even I was injured twice."
"The terrain of Mamayev Hill is dangerous, and it is the link between the north and south of the city." Ponedelin said: "The German attack here was the most violent. If other troops were to hold Mamayev I don’t know how many times I lost my post. But the infantry brigade or infantry under the command of the commander
The division is always like a nail, firmly on the ground. The Germans' attempt to seize the Mamayev Hills, occupy the ferry, and cut off the connection between the left and right banks of the Volga River failed. "
"Comrade Commander, I want to ask you a question." Ponedelin looked at Sokov and asked: "If there is another battle to defend Mamayev Heights, are you confident in holding the position?"
"It's hard to say, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov said hesitantly: "The German commanders who attacked Mamayev Heights at that time were not as good as me in command, so it was normal that they were unable to seize the high ground. But now let If I go to defend Mamayev Heights again, if a few famous generals appear among the Germans, I probably won’t be able to hold it.”
Sokov's words made Lunev laugh: "Misha, you are so humble. What I am thinking is that if you are asked to guard Mamayev Heights again, maybe you can achieve more brilliant results. Maybe."
But Sokov did not laugh. He thought of the Zelau Heights from Mamayev Heights, where Zhukov had been frustrated. The 1st Belarusian Front with an army of 900,000 troops was blocked by the German army. Zhukov tried his best, but still could not break through the German defenses. In the end, there was no choice but to detour to Konev's combat area and rush towards Berlin from the side and rear of the Zelau Heights. If Berlin had not been captured and Germany had not announced its surrender, countless people would have used the Battle of Zelau Heights to discredit Zhukov, thus denying that he was an excellent commander.
"Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?" Ponedelin saw Sokov thinking deeply and asked curiously, "Have you thought of any good combat plan?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and said, "I was just wondering, who will be the first troop to storm Berlin?"
"Didn't you just say that of the three front troops advancing towards Berlin, the 1st Belarusian Front commanded by Marshal Zhukov will be the first to enter Berlin."
"Yes, I said that." Sokov nodded and continued: "I do not deny that Marshal Zhukov's troops will be the first of the three fronts to enter Berlin. What I mean is that the Belarusian troops Among so many armies under the First Army, which unit will be the first to break into Berlin."
"Needless to say, it must be the 8th Guards Army of General Chuikov." Sidorin may have had great confidence in his old superior because he served Chuikov as the chief of operations. "Don't I forgot that the main force in the bloody battle with the German invaders in Stalingrad was General Chuikov's 62nd Army. It was precisely because of their tenacious performance in the battle and their outstanding military exploits that they were awarded the 8th Guards Corps by the Supreme Command. The honorary title of the Army Group."
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, after everyone pondered for a while, they all nodded in agreement and said in agreement: "Comrade Commander is right. Even if Marshal Zhukov orders the 8th Guards Army to be the main offensive, if something goes wrong, the first one to enter Berlin will Troops may become other troops.”
Runev said thoughtfully: "Misha, I understand what you mean. Even if Marshal Zhukov orders the 8th Guards Army to be the main offensive, General Chuikov is entirely likely to be frustrated due to too many uncertainties on the battlefield. This resulted in the failure of the first plan to enter Berlin."
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, you guessed it right." Sokov said with a smile: "That's what I thought about it. I have a hunch that General Chuikov's troops will not be the first to enter the city and get this Honorable, maybe it’s a little-known unit.”
