"No, he has not contacted me." When Sokov learned that Belkin went to the front line, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "Asia, do you know which front line he went to?"
The reason why Sokov asked this was because there were many troops participating in the "Operation Bagration". Although Belgin temporarily went to the front line, it did not mean that he would come here.
"I don't know exactly where I went." Asiya replied truthfully: "After all, this involves military secrets, and I am not qualified to know it at my level."
Sokov realized that he had taken it for granted. Asiya was just a military doctor in the Weapons and Equipment Department and the whereabouts of a school-level officer. How could she know the whereabouts of a school-level officer? However, he asked reluctantly: "Then who knows the whereabouts of a school-level officer?"
Where did Erkin go?"
"I think there are two people who might know."
"Asia, I wonder which two people they are?"
"One is naturally your good friend Yasha." Asiya said cautiously: "Although he left the weapons and equipment department, he is still connected with this place. I can see him coming back to do business from time to time."
Sokov thought for a moment. Although Yakov often returns to the weapons and equipment department now, it must be for other things. Maybe he can't even see Belkin in person. How can he know which front line he went to? More
What's more, now I don't know how to contact Yakov.
"Other than Yasha?" Sokov continued to ask: "Who else knows where Colonel Belkin is."
"Other than that, the only person who can know the whereabouts of Colonel Belgin is the People's Commissar Comrade Ustinov." Asia said cautiously: "Although from him, we can definitely find out where Belgin is.
Whereabouts, but if you call him directly, will he pay attention to you?"
Sokov secretly thought that he had dealt with Ustinov several times, and he was very enthusiastic about him at that time, but it was probably because of Yakov's face. Now Yakov has been transferred from the weapons and equipment department.
, the tea gets cold as soon as the person leaves, and it is unknown whether Ustinov can still be as enthusiastic about himself as before.
"Misha, Misha!" After Asiya finished her suggestion, she found that Sokov had not spoken for a long time. She couldn't help but feel a little anxious, so she called twice in succession and asked tentatively: "Are you still there?
"
"Still! Asiya, I'm still here!"
"Why didn't you say anything? I thought you hung up the phone."
"How could that be?" Sokov said with a smile, "I haven't talked to you about my family affairs yet, how could I hang up the phone so quickly?"
Just when Sokov was about to say a few sweet words to Asiya, a strange female voice suddenly came from the receiver: "Comrade commander, you are using a military line, please do not talk about personal matters."
Sokov was stunned after hearing this. Who is this? He actually interfered with my phone call?
Before he could speak, the female voice continued: "Your call will be automatically cut off in 10 seconds."
"Who are you?" Sokov asked warily: "Why are you eavesdropping on my conversation?"
But the other party ignored Sokov and just remained silent. After ten seconds passed, a blind tone came from the phone receiver, which was the sound of the phone being hung up.
"What the hell, what's going on?" Sokov thought with some annoyance: "I called my wife, but someone eavesdropped and didn't tell me, and the phone line was cut off whenever they wanted. It's so outrageous.
"
After holding the phone in a daze for a while, he picked up the phone and connected to the command headquarters. He found a communications staff officer on duty and asked: "Comrade staff officer, this is Sokov. I have something important to ask you!"
"
When the staff officer on duty heard that it was Sokov who called him, he said in a panic: "Comrade Commander, I can't ask for advice. If you have anything, please feel free to ask."
"I just called home. Unexpectedly, in the middle of the call, a strange woman's voice came out of the receiver, saying that I had no right to use the military line to talk about personal matters." Sokov said angrily: "You know what happened?
Something?"
"Comrade Commander, it turns out this is what happened." After the staff officer on duty figured out what was going on, he quickly explained to Sokov: "This is a supervisory measure of the communications department to ensure the smooth flow of military lines." It might be.
Worried that Sokov would not understand, he specifically added, "It is as if every letter we send must pass the inspection of the wartime letter censorship agency. Certain inappropriate content, or place names or words that may cause leaks,
It will all be wiped off directly.”
"Oh, so that's what happened." After the staff officer on duty explained it, Sokov understood what was going on: "Thank you, comrade staff officer!"
"You're welcome, Comrade Commander." The staff officer on duty said respectfully: "If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. I am willing to help you at any time."
After hanging up the phone, Sokov felt that this matter was really funny. He called Asiya and there were people monitoring him. Fortunately, he didn't say anything private. Otherwise, if the news got out, it would be a large-scale social death scene.
.
Early the next morning, when Sokov came to the headquarters, he happened to meet Sidorin.
As soon as Sidorin saw Sokov, he smiled and asked: "Comrade Commander, did you call Asya last night?"
"beated!"
"You guys haven't seen each other for so long. Have you talked about any personal topics?"
Hearing what Sidorin said, Sokov immediately showed an embarrassed expression on his face: "Hey, don't mention it! We finally chatted for a few words, but someone from the telecommunications department forcibly cut off the call."
"People from the telecommunications department forcibly cut off the phone call?" Sidorin asked confused: "Comrade Commander, what is going on? How could people from the telecommunications department forcibly cut off your phone call?"
Sokov quickly repeated to Sidorin what the staff officer on duty said last night. Finally, he said with emotion: "It seems that I won't be able to call home casually in the future."
Ponejelin walked in from the door and happened to hear Sokov's words behind him. He asked with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, why can't you just call home anymore?"
Seeing Ponedelin asking about it, Sokov told Ponedelin what happened last night again, and finally said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the situation is like this. It seems that I will not do anything in the future."
I dare to contact my family casually. I know that every word I say on the phone is being monitored, which makes me feel very uncomfortable."
"If you can't make a phone call, you can write a letter home." Ponjelin reminded.
"That's not possible." Sokov shook his head and said: "Every letter sent out must be inspected by the wartime letter inspection agency. I wrote a letter to Asiya, and when it got into her hands,
It’s probably been obliterated so long that you can’t see what’s written on it.”
"Comrade Commander, it is definitely inconvenient to send letters through regular channels." Ponedelin suggested to Sokov: "If you know who wants to return to Moscow in the future, you can drag him to bring the letter to Asya. That way
You can avoid inspection by the wartime letter censorship agency."
"This is a good idea." Sidorin said from the side. "In this way, not a single letter will be obliterated on the letters Asiya receives. Comrade Commander, I will help you pay attention. If
If anyone wants to return to Moscow, I will inform you in advance."
"Okay, let's talk about sending the letter later. What we have to do today is to convey the superior's combat plan." Sokov told Sidorin: "Inform all regiment-level commanders immediately, and go to the commander-in-chief
Come to the department for a meeting!”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sidorin nodded and said, "I will call the troops below immediately and ask them to come as soon as possible for a meeting."
Two hours later, the meeting was held in a spacious hall.
After Sidorin read out the Bagration battle plan in public, the venue immediately became excited. Everyone was puzzled by the fact that the front army headquarters gave up the direction of Ilic and launched the attack from the swamp area instead, so they whispered to each other.
Got up.
The reaction of the crowd had long been expected by Sokov. When he proposed this plan, Rokossovsky and Malinin found it difficult to understand at first. Later, when Zhukov saw this combat plan for the first time,
They also got angry and felt that such a combat plan was nonsense. When these people truly understood the subtleties of this combat plan, they all became die-hard supporters of the plan.
After the discussion in the meeting subsided, Sokov stood up, walked to the microphone, and said to the commanders participating in the meeting below: "Comrade commanders, I know that everyone has many questions about this combat plan from the superiors...
..." As soon as he spoke, the venue suddenly became quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on him, waiting quietly for him to continue.
"...I did not choose the direction of Ilic where the terrain was flat and dry, and there were no rivers or swamps to block it. Instead, I chose a land full of swamps and rivers. You must know that armored vehicles cannot be used on a large scale in these places. That is to say
, to seize every enemy stronghold, we need our infantry to fight tooth and nail. Do you think I am right?"
Sokov's words reflected the sentiments of the commanders present. Everyone did not understand why the superiors chose the swamp area as the main attack direction since their superiors had already seen this problem. But no one said anything.
Because they knew in their hearts that their commander would soon solve the mystery to everyone.
"Yes, the direction of Ilic is indeed very tempting. Since there are no obstacles from rivers, forests and swamps, our army can use armored forces normally in this direction. But..." Sokov's expression suddenly became serious.
: "The Germans can also think of the problems we can consider. Therefore, they have established a complete defense system in this direction and deployed heavy troops. If we want to attack from this direction, what we have to face is the German army's heavy troop group
and a powerful fire defense system. It can be said that every time we move forward, we will pay a lot of casualties.
I have calculated that if the superiors assign the task of attacking in the direction of Ilic to our group army to complete. Facing such solid fortifications, powerful artillery fire and heavy troop groups of the German army, we will suffer at least one division's casualties every day, in less than ten days
, the entire army group was wiped out."
He guessed that his words would definitely arouse doubts from everyone, so before anyone present could speak, he continued: "I think there must be many people who think that my statement is alarmist.
Attacking in the direction of Ilic will cost one division every day, so if we launch an assault from the swamp area, wouldn’t we pay such heavy casualties?”
After asking this question, he answered his own question and said: "Yes, if you let me say it, I can tell you clearly that if we attack from the swamp area, the casualties paid by our army will be greatly reduced.
why?
Because the German defense forces in these areas are very weak and have not formed a complete defense system. At best, they are only on some high ground and even have some firepower points. If we start attacking from these places, even without the support of tanks, the infantry can easily
He quickly captured these high ground of the German army and quickly rushed into the depth of the German army's defense..."
As Sokov explained, those commanders who had different ideas about Bagration's battle plan gradually understood the subtleties of the plan, and they couldn't help but have relaxed expressions on their faces.
Especially the commanders of the infantry divisions, according to their thinking, if they want to launch such a large-scale battle, their troops will suffer more than half of their casualties in the first three days of the war. But if the attack is launched from the swamp area, due to the German army's
If the defense force is weak, the casualties of the troops will be greatly reduced.
After Sokov finished speaking, he turned around and returned to his seat, leaving Sidorin to take care of the rest.
It is customary for military meetings to have superior commanders assign tasks in front of them. After the commanders participating in the meeting have received the tasks, they will enter the question-and-answer session. They will ask the chief of staff some detailed questions, and the responsibility of the chief of staff is
Explain to them and propose solutions.
"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin leaned close to Sokov and whispered: "If you are not here, it may not be easy for the commanders to accept this task willingly."
Sokov agreed very much with Ponedelin's statement. Although Soviet commanders at all levels were accustomed to obeying orders given by their superiors, they would still carry them out no matter how much they didn't understand them. However,
They had some knots in their hearts, but my explanation made them understand the real reason why their superiors chose this offensive route, so as to resolve their grudges and enable them to better perform combat missions.
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov recalled that Ponedelin was considered an older generation of commanders. Every time he performed a combat mission, he never gave any explanation to his subordinates. He only had to convey the order.
And when those subordinates receive their orders, even if they don't understand them, they can only carry them out. Now this method has proved to be unworkable, and adjustments are necessary: "I personally feel that when assigning combat tasks to the troops, appropriate
The explanation will help the commanders below to better understand our intentions, what do you think?"
Hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin realized that the other party was pointing out the shortcomings in his previous command. He couldn't help but blush, and then nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, you are right. I will convey it to you later."
When issuing orders, as long as conditions permit, we can provide necessary explanations to grassroots commanders so that they can understand our true intentions."
