In late April, it was already known to everyone that Marshal Konev was transferred to the 1st Ukrainian Front. When everyone learned that Sokov would also follow Marshal Konev to the 1st Ukrainian Front, it was inevitable
There were some discussions in private, and I felt that with Sokov's ability and achievements, he might have the opportunity to become the deputy commander of the front army after passing.
But what is surprising is that the day before Konev went to Moscow to participate in the May Day military parade, the front army headquarters officially announced Sokov's new appointment.
When the appointment was officially announced, everyone, including Sokov, was dumbfounded.
Others were dumbfounded because they discovered that after Sokov went to the First Front, his position was not deputy commander of the front, but a group army commander.
Sokov, Ponedelin, Kirillov and others were dumbfounded because the group army that assigned him the position of commander was not the 40th Army of Lieutenant General Zhimachenko as agreed in advance, but Poleno.
Lieutenant General Hu's 47th Army.
Seeing the appointment letter written in black and white, Ponedelin frowned and asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, what is going on? I didn't say that you would be the commander of the 40th Group Army. Why did it become so in the blink of an eye?
Where is the 47th Army?"
"I don't know either." After receiving the appointment letter, Sokov called the front army headquarters and wanted to know the reason from Konev, but Zakharov who answered the phone said apologetically: "
Sorry, Comrade Sokov, Marshal Konev has already gone to Moscow to participate in the May Day military parade and will not be back until after the 5th at the earliest."
Sokov originally thought that Zakharov, as Konev's chief of staff and having a good relationship with him, should be able to tell him the reason, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, since Marshal Konev is not here, then what?
I want to ask you, why has my appointment changed? From the original 40th Group Army to the 47th Group Army?"
It was Zakharov who, as Konev's representative, went to Otac to discuss the future with Sokov. But today when he heard Sokov's question, he was speechless. He didn't know what his superiors were saying.
Why was the original plan adjusted and Sokov appointed as the commander of the 47th Army?
At this moment, when he heard Sokov's questioning, he could only act rogue: "Comrade Sokov, this is your First Front Army's matter. Although I am the Chief of Staff of the Second Front Army, as for your matters,
Still don’t have permission to know.”
After hearing Zakharov's answer, Sokov knew that he would not gain anything if he continued asking, so he stopped wasting time and hung up the phone directly.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Kirillov asked with some urgency: "Comrade Commander, did General Zakharov say why his superiors suddenly changed their minds?"
"Nothing was asked." Sokov shook his head and said: "It seems that he does not know the specific situation. And Marshal Konev, the only one who knows the inside story, has gone to Moscow again at the moment and cannot be contacted for the moment."
Ponedelin, who was the first to ask the question, remained silent at this time, seeming to be thinking about something. After a long time, he said: "Comrade Commander, I still have a few reliable friends in Moscow. I will go to them now."
Let me inquire about the situation of the 47th Group Army and then report back to you."
After speaking, after obtaining Sokov's consent, he stood up and left the room.
Ponedelin left, and Kirillov felt that there was no point in staying any longer, so he stood up and left.
After both of them left, Smirnov came in from the outside and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, although it took only a few months for our partners to learn that you were going to be transferred, my
I still feel quite reluctant to part with it.”
Sokov chuckled and said: "The superiors may think that my mission in the 53rd Army has been completed, and then they will transfer me to a new unit."
"Comrade Commander, I heard a rumor." Smirnov said after sitting down next to Sokov: "It was said that the superiors initially planned to send you to the 40th Group Army, but today's appointment was inexplicably changed to
The 47th Army, right?"
Now that the appointment given to him by his superiors has been announced, even if he concealed it, someone would probably figure out the truth soon, so Sokov answered truthfully: "Yes, this is indeed the case."
Smirnov glanced in the direction of the door. Although he saw no one, he still lowered his voice and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I heard that in the appointment letter from the superior, it was originally written that the 40th
Army Group. However, a certain former commander of the Army Group may be worried that after you go, you will achieve more impressive results than him, thereby covering up his past glory, so he did something behind the scenes, which led to your transfer.
47th Army."
Sokov never dreamed that someone was behind the change in his position. Although Smirnov did not specify which former commander it was, after thinking about it for a while, he guessed the answer and tried to
He asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have thought of the person behind the scenes. Is this person currently in the 38th Army?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Smirnov didn't say anything, but just laughed twice. Quan Dang acquiesced to Sokov's statement. He said calmly: "You have obtained the honor at a young age.
With the rank of general, and having commanded a combat group with four armies, it would be strange if others weren’t jealous. What’s more, if you go to the 40th Army, it will definitely give the army a completely new look, and then a certain former commander will probably
They will feel that they have lost face, so they will think of ways to stop you."
However, Sokov soon felt relieved. He chuckled and said: "Chief of Staff, this actually means that the other party admits that my achievements on the battlefield are far better than his. If I were to succeed him in the past,
The troops he once commanded have overshadowed his previous aura, so he naturally has to find ways to prevent this from happening."
"By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov thought that he would soon go to the 47th Group Army to take up his post. Knowing more about this unit would be very helpful for carrying out his work: "Do you know anything about the 47th Group Army?
?”
"I don't know." Smirnov answered simply: "After all, we have so many army groups. It is simply impossible to understand the situation of each army."
Seeing the disappointment on Sokov's face, he quickly added: "But I can ask my friends to find out. If I have any news, I will tell you as soon as possible."
When Sokov was appointed as the commander of the 47th Group Army, Muzichenko was different from everyone else. He was secretly grateful. Fortunately, he rejected Sokov's request, otherwise he would have looked at Sokov and become
The butt of everyone’s private jokes.
"Comrade division commander," Major Lekashali, the chief of staff, seeing Muzichenko being silent and thinking that he was worried about Sokov's future, asked with concern: "Why did the superiors suddenly appoint the commander as the commander of the 47th Group Army?
As for the officer, what is going on? Did he make some mistake?"
"Make a mistake?" Hearing Lekashali's statement, Muzichenko asked in surprise: "Chief of Staff, why do you think that the commander made a mistake before he was appointed as the commander of the 47th Group Army?
What about?"
"Comrade Commander's current position is the commander of the combat group, and he also commands two combined arms groups and two tank armies." Lekashali said: "According to his current position, even if he has gone to the first front
Army, he should also be the deputy commander of the front army. Unexpectedly, the superiors only appointed him as the commander of the 47th Army. Doesn’t this mean he was downgraded?”
Regarding the matter of Sokov's position, Muzichenko did not express any opinion, but asked Lekashali: "Chief of Staff, as far as I know, when the commander goes to the 47th Group Army this time, he will transfer the people who came from Frunze
All the cadets from the military academy have been taken away, and you are one of them. Do you want to stay or leave? If you want to leave, I will naturally have no problem with you. If you want to stay, I will go to the commander to put in a good word for you.
"
The reason why Muzichenko wants to retain Lekashali is entirely because the chief of staff cooperates very well with him. If he leaves, and the new chief of staff sent by his superiors wants to cooperate so well again, I am afraid that
It takes a long time to break in.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard Lekashali say: "Comrade division commander, thank you for your kindness. I have decided that no matter where the commander goes, I will follow him. I have stayed in the army.
In seven or eight years, it was only during these few months with the commander that I felt that I had learned how to fight a war."
When he learned that Major Lekashali wanted to leave, Muzichenko said reluctantly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't you think about it anymore? Maybe staying is your best choice."
"Division Commander, thank you for your kindness." Major Lekashali repeated what he just said: "I have made a decision. No matter where the commander goes, I will follow him."
"Okay, now that you have made your decision, I will respect your decision." Seeing that Lekashali was determined to leave with Sokov, Muzichenko knew that it was useless to say anything else, so he agreed.
He made his decision. Then he turned to ask the other students he brought from the headquarters: "Do you think the same as Major Lekashali?"
"Yes," several staff officers nodded at the same time and said unanimously in a affirmative tone: "We have the same decision as the chief of staff. No matter where Comrade Commander goes, we will go with him."
Seeing that several students, like Major Lekashali, were preparing to follow Sokov to the 47th Army, Muzichenko suddenly felt as if all his strength had been drained. These people were his most capable assistants. If they all
If he leaves, he will become a mere commander. I am afraid that he will not be as comfortable commanding the troops in the future as before.
But at the same time, he knew in his heart that since the departure of these subordinates was already a certainty, even if he got angry at them, it would be of no use. Instead, he would have made several enemies. So he forced a smile on his face and forced himself to smile.
He said with a smile: "I respect your choice and I wish you good luck!"
Just when Muzichenko was in a panic, Ponedelin returned to Sokov's office and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I already have a general understanding of the situation of the 47th Group Army and need to do it immediately.
Report to you."
Sokov was also very interested in the troops he was about to take office. Since Ponedelin said that he already understood the general situation, there was no harm in listening. He nodded and said: "Okay, let's talk about it."
.”
"The earliest 47th Group Army was established on the basis of the 28th Mechanized Army of the Transcaucasus Military District. It fought successively within the Transcaucasus Front, the Crimean Front and the North Caucasus Front. It was not disbanded until the end of October 1943, and the troops were handed over to
The 27th and 38th Group Armies were mobilized, and the Army Headquarters led the directly affiliated troops to mobilize the reserves of the Supreme Command Headquarters Base Camp.
In January this year, it was temporarily incorporated into the 1st Ukrainian Front. In February, the group army headquarters moved to the Sarny area and was transferred to the newly built 2nd Belarusian Front. In March, the 77th and 125th Infantry Corps, as well as the Infantry
The 307th Division and other units regained their combat capabilities. They conducted defensive operations on the front lines of Yamny and Dombrovich.
In the second half of March, offensive operations were carried out in the direction of Kovel. In early April, he was incorporated into the 1st Belorussian Front of General Rokossovsky and fought within its organization..."
"Wait a minute, General Ponedelin." Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but interrupt Ponedelin, "Didn't my superiors ask me to go to the 1st Ukrainian Front? Why is the 47th Army now?
Does it still belong to the order of operations of the 1st Belorussian Front?"
"Comrade Commander, this is also something that puzzles me." Ponedelin frowned and said: "Logically speaking, it was just placed under the command of the 1st Belarusian Front at the beginning of this month, and at the beginning of next month it was placed under the command of the 2nd Ukrainian Front.
On the one hand, I think such frequent changes in military command are a bit unrealistic."
"If this army group is not assigned to the 1st Ukrainian Front," Sokov also frowned, "then wouldn't we become General Rokossovsky's subordinates?"
Ponedelin kindly reminded Sokov: "Yes, if the command relationship of the army does not change, when you are transferred to the 47th Group Army next month, then you will become a subordinate of General Rokossovsky.
It will no longer be under the command of Marshal Konev."
Sokov was thinking that it would not be a bad thing if his troops could be affiliated with the 1st Belorussian Front. In a few months, Zhukov would replace Rokossovsky and become the new commander of the front.
If his troops can stay under Zhukov's command, he may be the first to command his troops to rush into Berlin in the Battle of Berlin next year.
Seeing that Sokov was deep in thought, Ponedelin could not disturb him, so he could only sit aside and wait patiently. Finally, when Sokov returned to normal, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, how about...
If you ask Marshal Konev again, will you be his subordinate or General Rokossovsky's subordinate in the future?"
After listening to what Ponedelin said, Sokov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "General Ponedelin, I also want to ask Marshal Konev what is going on.
. But now that he has gone to Moscow, I can’t contact him at all, so we can only wait until he comes back from Moscow.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin was silent for a while and then said: "Comrade Commander, actually it is not necessarily a bad thing for us to go to the 1st Belarusian Front. I heard that General Rokossovsky is also a
He is an excellent commander, and you can often win battles by following him."
This chapter has been completed!