After several new battalion commanders were all busy, Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I really didn't expect that the base camp would pass through the Front Command and directly adapt our battalion into an infantry brigade."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, you can see that this is the recognition of your abilities and achievements made by the superiors." After Berkin said this, he asked tentatively: "The expansion of the troops is very convenient. The original squad leader was promoted to platoon leader, the platoon leader was promoted to company commander, and the company commander was promoted to battalion commander. Do you think after we complete the expansion, should we report to the Front Command so that the commander can know it?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, you're very reasonable." Sokov considered the practice of expanding the battalion into a brigade, and the base camp directly passed the order issued by the commander of the front army. As a member of the Bryansk Front Army, he should report to Rokosovsky in both circumstances and reason. Thinking of this, he asked the newly-elected Communications Company Lieutenant Maxim to send a telegram to the Front Army Command, and gave a detailed report on the expansion.
When he received the telegram from Sokov, Rokosovsky was also surprised. He did not expect that the base camp would pass by him and directly issued an order to expand the troops to Sokov. Although he was dissatisfied with many dissatisfactions, since it was a decision made by his superiors, even if he was the commander of the front army, he had no right to change it. He handed the telegram to Malining and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think about this?"
Malining carefully read the telegram sent by Sokov. He was meticulous and naturally understood what Rokosovsky was thinking and said quickly: "Comrade Commander, I think it is completely necessary to expand the Istrian Battalion into an infantry brigade. We all know what Sokov's command ability is. If he always commands a battalion, his command ability will not be fully demonstrated. But now he is commanding an infantry brigade, and I believe that he can establish great achievements in the next battle."
Rokosovsky naturally understood that the role of letting Sokov command a brigade was definitely no less than that of an infantry army. The dissatisfaction just now was just because his superiors gave Sokov an order directly because he did not say hello to him. After Malining finished speaking, he said with some concern: "They only have a few hundred people. Even if they are expanded into infantry brigades, it will be just an empty brigade. It may be difficult to form combat power in a short period of time. Unfortunately, our current troops are limited, otherwise we can allocate some troops to him, so that his infantry brigade can be worthy of its reputation."
What Rokosovsky said was exactly what Malining was worried about. He thought for a while and then said, "Comrade Commander, do you think this is OK? I will send Sokov a telegram and ask him what difficulties are there? Then we will discuss how to help him."
"It seems that this is the only way." Rokosovsky nodded and said to Malining: "After sending him a telegram, you will send a telegram to Major General Rotmistrov, urging his tank 7th Army to speed up the march, and be sure to arrive in Kursk within two days to meet with Sokov's 73rd Infantry Brigade."
After receiving the telegram from Malining, Rotmistrov was really amused and crying. He also wanted to arrive at Kursk as soon as possible and meet with the troops occupying the city. However, the road traffic status was too poor, and the speed of the tank troops was no more than five kilometers per hour. Even if he wanted to accelerate, there was no way.
The Chief of Staff asked him tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you see if you call back to the Front Command and report to them about the difficulties we have encountered?"
"No, there is only one infantry battalion that is stuck in the city of Kursk. They cannot stop the enemy's strong attack at all. We must go and support them as soon as possible." After a brief thought, Rotmistrov said decisively: "Call back to the Front Command and say that our army will speed up the march and arrive in Kursk within the specified time to join friendly forces."
Seeing that Rotmistrov's attitude was so firm, the chief of staff was not willing to persuade him anymore, so he had to agree and turn around and send a telegram. Rotmistrov ordered a staff officer: "Immediately organize people to cut down trees and lay roads for controllable tanks in front."
After reading Malining's telegram, Sokov handed it to Belkin and asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, look, what difficulties do we have in our brigade? We need our superiors to help us solve them?"
After reading the telegram, Belkin thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, after our brigade is rapidly expanded, there will be a serious shortage of grassroots commanders. Look, can we ask the head of the front army to support a group of commanders so that we can enrich the combat troops."
"Yes, we do lack commanders at all levels." Sokov stood up and walked back and forth around the house with his hands behind his back: "But the Front Command is also facing the same problem. Even if we make a request in this regard, it may not be satisfied. In my opinion, it is better to call the front commander back and say that we will find a way to overcome the difficulties we are currently facing."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Berkin saw Sokov's statement so lightly, specifically reminded him: "There is a big gap in commanders at all levels in the brigade. We can promote the company and platoon-level commanders from below. However, there is still a battalion commander who has a vacant position, but there is no suitable candidate in the brigade."
Hearing Berkin say this, Sokov couldn't help but think of the original third company commander Saviev. Although his ability was limited, he had participated in a great fierce battle and had rich combat experience. He could barely be able to be the battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion. However, he thought about it, Vanya rescued nearly a thousand captured soldiers in the prisoner-of-war camp in the south of the city, and there must be many commanders. Perhaps a group of them could be picked out from among them and returned to command positions at all levels.
Thinking of this, he said to Belkin: "Don't worry, Comrade Political Commissar, I plan to go and see if I can pick out some suitable commanders from among them."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Belkin tried his best to dissuade him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I think it is inappropriate to have such an important position taken by an officer who just came out of the prisoner-of-war camp. I think you should think of other solutions."
Seeing that Belkin opposed his opinion, Sokov did not argue with him, but asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, since you oppose the selection of officers from prisoners of war and serve as commanders at all levels, do you have the right candidate to serve as battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion?"
After hearing this, Belkin nodded and said in a affirmative tone: "Yes, I do know that there is such a person who is fully qualified for the position of battalion commander."
"Who?" Sokov asked curiously.
Chapter completed!