After Sokov put down the phone, he was thinking that if he were to go to a new army, it might not be enough if he only led regiment commanders. After all, his new position was the commander of a group army, and he could not go beyond those commanders.
Division commander, should you directly command the regiment commanders you brought over?
Samyko, who had just walked in from outside, did not know that Sokov had just answered an important phone call. He found the other party sitting there in a daze, so he walked over and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov looked at Samyko and said with a wry smile: "I'm afraid it won't be long before I am no longer the commander of the combat group."
Sameko was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Why?"
The matter of Konev's transfer is still confidential at this moment. Naturally, Sokov will not tell Samyko casually. He can only say tactfully: "Because my superiors want to transfer me to other fronts, I can no longer continue to serve as the commander of the combat group."
Member."
After figuring out what was going on, Sameko then asked: "Do you know which army you will go to?"
"I don't know." Sokov shook his head and said, "Anyway, I'm sure we'll leave here."
"Usually when you go to a new unit, you can choose some people to take with you." Sameko asked tentatively: "I wonder which people you plan to take with you?"
"The group of students I brought from the Frunze Military Academy." Sokov said: "Marshal Konev specially greeted me and said that when taking people away, they should not have an impact on the existing troops, so I
We can only take them away."
"What about Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, Colonel Muzichenko and Colonel Kirillov?" Samyko said with some worry: "They are where they are today entirely because of the support of you. If
If you leave, I'm worried that the three of them will be marginalized unknowingly."
Samyko's words reminded Sokov that these three people were saved by his future. If he had been the commander of the combat group, they would not have been treated unfairly. But if he left,
, who knows whether the next commander will continue to think highly of them?
Seeing that Sokov was silent, Samyko asked another key question: "Comrade Commander, after you leave, who will take over your post?"
"Who else could there be, of course General Trofimenko." Sokov explained to Samyko: "He was originally the deputy commander of the combat group. When I, the commander, left, he came to replace me.
Isn’t that a natural thing?”
Knowing that Trofimenko would take over Sokov's post, Samyko couldn't help but frowned: "Comrade Commander, isn't there anyone else who will take over your post?"
"Why do you say that?" Sokov asked rhetorically.
"You were injured and left the 27th Army." Samyko said with a painful expression: "The person who took over your post was General Trofimenko. His command method is completely different from yours. In the next step
Although our army achieved many victories during the battle, the casualties suffered were so severe that when Kiev was liberated, our group army could only serve as a reserve unit responsible for monitoring enemies in secondary directions."
From Samyko's words, Sokov heard the other party's worry, and said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry, people always change. Although General Trofimenko's previous way of commanding operations,
It is very different from my way, but after this period of getting along with him, he has been influenced by me to some extent. I believe that if another war breaks out, he will not make the same low-level mistakes as before."
Samyko heard from Sokov's words that there was no room for change in this matter. He could only sigh and said helplessly: "I hope so." After a moment of pause, he asked tentatively, "Then what?"
When is the time to leave?"
"I don't know about this either." Sokov said with a wry smile: "I will leave immediately as soon as the orders from my superiors are issued."
Seeing that Sokov didn't know when he would be transferred or where he would be transferred, Samyko did not dwell on the matter, but changed the subject in time: "Comrade Commander, since you are leaving,
So what will we do next?”
"I specifically consulted Marshal Konev on this matter." Sokov said: "Our goal of launching the campaign has basically been achieved. In another week at most, this campaign will be over. In the following days
, which means to replenish soldiers, weapons and ammunition, and wait until the time is right to launch a new offensive campaign."
When Sameko learned that the battle was about to end, he couldn't help but worry about the troops that had entered Romania: "Now that the battle is about to end, what should we do with our troops in Romania? Let them stay there, or should they all withdraw?
Coming out?"
"It is impossible to withdraw, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said to Sameko: "All our troops must stay in Romania, and we must seize the time to build fortifications and improve the defense system to prevent possible attacks by the German army.
attack."
"That's right, since the battle is about to end, the superiors will definitely not let our troops attack again." Sameko said: "It is completely correct to let the troops in Romania move to defense on the spot. I will wait for it.
Immediately, I will call several commanders and ask them to be prepared to switch to defense on the spot. At the same time, we will recruit migrant workers locally to prepare to build strong fortifications and establish a complete defense system."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that you have thought very carefully." Sokov agreed with what Samyko said and told him: "Building fortifications requires a lot of manpower and construction resources are also indispensable. We
We have contacted Marshal Konev and he said that he will notify the logistics department and provide us with a sufficient amount of construction materials to build fortifications."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said quickly after hearing Sokov mentioning the building materials needed to build the fortifications: "I think this matter should be left to the engineering troops of the cluster. They are professionals.
It is most appropriate to do these things. Also, in addition to building fortifications, we also need to lay minefields and pull up barbed wire in front of our army's positions. This is a particularly huge project that cannot be completed in a day or two.
"
"There's no rush, Comrade Chief of Staff, these things can all be done slowly." Although Sokov couldn't remember the specific time when the Romanian campaign was launched, he knew that there would be no major Soviet forces in Romania before August.
Action, he said to Sameko: "I estimate that after this battle, our army and the German army will take a period of rest and recuperation, and they will not launch a large-scale attack on our army for the time being."
"But it is always good to complete the defenses early." Sameko said: "After the war broke out, why did the Germans break through our army's defenses on the border in such a short period of time and then drive straight in? It's because we were on the border.
The fortifications built were delayed in completion, and when the enemy launched an attack, these fortifications originally used to resist the Germans became ridiculous decorations with no chance to play their role."
Hearing what Samyko said, Sokov couldn't help but start to wonder. In fact, before the war broke out, a German soldier came to surrender and accurately told the time when the German army launched an attack on the Soviet Union. Although the General Staff Officer at the time
Commander Zhukov repeatedly emphasized to Stalin that the intelligence of the surrendered soldier was true and credible, but the Supreme Commander himself was always suspicious, so much so that he asked Zhukov and Timoshenko to issue an ambiguous order to the border troops.
The order not only requires the troops to be on first-level combat readiness to strictly guard against sneak attacks by the German army and its slave countries, but also requires the troops not to be affected by any "provocative actions" by the German army. It is estimated that the headquarters of each military region were confused when they received the order. No one knew
I wonder whether the General Staff will let them meet the German attack, or let them stand by and drive away the Germans as before?
It was this ambiguous order that troubled all the troops on the border. No commander at all levels dared to give the order for the troops to enter the position and distribute ammunition first. As a result, a considerable number of troops missed valuable preparation time, thus
As a result, when the troops were attacked by the Germans, they were defeated without resistance for long.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," but the situation today is very different from that of that time. The Soviet army is no longer passively waiting for the outbreak of war, but actively launches an attack on the German invaders. In order to prevent Sameko from temporarily understanding
He made a mistake and gave inappropriate orders to the troops. Sokov said to him: "Now we are the attacking party. The Germans will not dare to attack us easily before they are fully prepared. So there is no need to
Nervous, as long as the construction of the fortifications can be completed within two months, it will be enough."
"Two months?!" Regarding Sokov's statement, Samyko seemed a little dubious: "Can the Germans really give us such a long time to prepare for war?"
"The Germans are definitely not willing to give us such a long time to prepare for war," Sokov said with a smile: "But after they suffered a strong blow from our army, they need time to replenish their troops and ammunition, and consolidate their existing defense areas. These
It all takes time. As a result, there will be a rest period of two or three months without realizing it. Our army can just use this time to build fortifications, consolidate existing positions, and use them as future troops.
Assembly point and starting point for the attack."
"Comrade Commander, General Samyko, what are you talking about?" Smirnov walked in slowly from outside. Seeing Sokov and Samyko chatting animatedly, he couldn't help but come over and ask: "
Can you tell me?"
"General Smirnov, let me tell you some bad news." After Samyko glanced at Sokov, he turned to Smirnov and said: "I just received an order from my superiors. The commander may be dismissed in the near future.
Pull away."
Smirnov's expression froze on his face, and after a while, he frowned and said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't make such a joke, it's not funny at all."
"No, General Smirnov, I'm not kidding." Samyko said with a serious expression: "Everything I said is true."
At first Smirnov thought Samyko was joking, but seeing his serious expression at the moment, he immediately realized that this matter might be true. He quickly walked up to Sokov and asked urgently: "Commander
Comrade, is everything the Chief of Staff said true?"
"Of course it's true, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov nodded and gave the other party a positive answer: "Marshal Konev personally informed me that he would transfer me to another position not long ago.
serve in the army."
"What will we do if we transfer you to other troops?" Confirming the news that Sokov was about to be transferred, Smirnov became anxious: "Now our troops have just entered Romania. Once you transfer, who will
To command them?"
"The purpose of this campaign has been basically achieved," Sokov said to Smirnov: "So in a few days, the superiors will announce the end of this campaign. And our troops in Romania will also stop everything.
Military operations must be shifted to defense on the spot and seize the time to build fortifications to prevent possible counterattacks by the German army."
"Comrade Commander, if we stop military operations in Romania, will the Germans immediately launch a counterattack?" Smirnov asked with some uneasiness: "If this is really the case, I am worried that when the time comes, Pony
The troops commanded by General Jie Lin will have a fierce battle?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov comforted Smirnov and said: "Judging from the current situation, the Germans have been beaten hard by us. In a short period of time, they should not be able to launch a new attack in Romania.
Attack, so General Ponejelin and others have enough time to build fortifications and establish a complete defense system."
"That's good, that's good." Hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov breathed a sigh of relief. He also explained to Sokov: "Don't see General Ponedelin's battle group.
They have all entered Romania, but their logistical supply lines are not yet safe, and they are in danger of being attacked by the German or Romanian troops at any time. If they want to switch to defense on the spot, they must hoard a certain amount of supplies, so even if the supply lines are cut off by the enemy,
It also lasts a long time.”
"Comrade Commander, since you are leaving, shouldn't you say hello to General Ponedelin in advance?" Smirnov kindly reminded Sokov: "Let him know what's going on."
"You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov agreed with Smirnov's proposal: "After I leave, other commanders will definitely not value him as highly as I do now, so let him
He was mentally prepared in advance."
After saying that, he asked the director of the communications corps to help him get through the phone of the Ponejelin battle group headquarters. After hearing Ponedelin's voice, Sokov asked: "General Ponedelin, where are you?"
How is it going?"
"After occupying two cities in Romania, I have ordered the troops to switch to defense on the spot and build fortifications near the cities to prevent possible counterattacks by the German army." Ponejelin said on the phone: "As long as there is
With a complete defense system, even if we are attacked by the German army, we can still hold on until the main force arrives!"
Sokov agreed with Ponedelin's arrangement: "General Ponedelin, you did the right thing. Now the goal of the battle has been achieved and it may end at any time. If we blindly expand the area
, will lead to the dispersion of troops. Once the German army gathers superior forces to counterattack, we will suffer heavy losses."
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I think so too." Ponejelin replied: "Consolidating the defense early will help our army gain a foothold in Romania and reserve a larger assembly area and starting point for the offensive for the follow-up troops.
.”
This chapter has been completed!