A week after Ajelina left, Sokov suddenly received a call from Malining. The Chief of Staff of the Army said hurriedly on the phone: "Major Sokov, transfer your command to the Chief of Staff, and then immediately rushed to the headquarters."
Sokov didn't know what happened, and as soon as he put down the phone, he said to Portukin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I need to rush to the Army Command immediately, and you will be fully responsible for the work in the division."
"Comrade Commander, is there something wrong?" Potukin couldn't help but ask curiously: "It's not been once or twice for meetings at the Army Command, but this is the first time I have handed over the command power to me. I think something great has definitely happened."
After saying this, Potukin was silent for a moment, then a surprised expression appeared on his face: "Is it related to the information brought back by Ajelina?"
Potukin's words reminded Sokov, reminding him of the Stalingrad defense battle that took place in history, which almost started in the past two days, so he hurriedly asked, "What is the number today?"
Potukin replied without hesitation: "No. 29, Comrade Commander, today is June 29, 1942." After figuring out the specific date, Sokov immediately realized that the famous Stalingrad defense battle had begun. He nodded and said, "I understand!" Then he picked up the helmet placed on the table, put it on his head, and walked out of the division command with great strides.
At this moment, Sokov was very excited. He knew that due to the Soviet army's series of failures in Kharkov and Krim, the hard-won reserves were exhausted, which seriously weakened the troops on the southern wing and regained the strategic initiative. He knew very well what actions the German army would take and which direction to launch an attack. But he understood even more that although he knew these things, he could not tell anyone. Whether others believed it or not was second. If every move of the German army was exactly what he said, how could he justify himself in the face of the review of the internal affairs department?
When he arrived at the headquarters, Sokov unexpectedly found that except for several army leaders, the only ones participating in the meeting were General Orlov, the commander of the infantry army, and his army political commissar Ratshev. Seeing Sokov come in, Rokosovsky nodded at him and then signaled him to sit in an empty seat at the conference table.
After Sokov sat down, Rokosovsky continued to say: "...The German Command has recovered its vitality after its failure near Moscow, and in the past two months, it has supplemented its troops with personnel and technical equipment. Since the Allies did not open up a second battlefield, the Germans could draw new divisions from France and Belgium to the East.
At present, Hitler bandits have concentrated a large number of troops on the southern wing of the Soviet-German front, taking advantage of our army's defeat in the spring battle near Krim and Kharkov. Yesterday, on June 28, Weix, commander of the B Army Group Group, commanded Hot's 4th Armored Army, and von Zalmut's 2nd Army turned to attack in the direction of Voronezh, and carried out assaults on our 13th and 40th Army at the junction of the Bryansk Front and the Southwest Front. Here the enemy broke through our defense and quickly advanced to the southeast, so that the initiative on the battlefield fell into their hands."
"Comrade Commander," As soon as Rokosovsky finished speaking, Orlov interjected and asked: "Isn't the commander of the 2nd German Army Weix? When did he become von Zalmut?"
"That's right, General Orlov." Malining explained to him about Orlov's question: "Based on the information we intercepted, because Hitler felt that the command of the army group commander Marshal Von Bock was too conservative, so he removed his position and allowed Weix to take over his position. The position of commander of the second army was replaced by Von Zalmut."
"But comrade Commander, I still don't understand." After hearing Malining's explanation, Orlov still stared at Rokosovsky and asked: "The location of our 16th Army seems to be too far from Voronezh. Do you want to transfer us to this area?"
"General Orlov, you are right. The position occupied by the group army is indeed too far from Voronezh. And even if the superiors want to mobilize us, they need to draw new troops to replace our defense zone. Under the current circumstances, this is obviously impossible." Rokosovsky looked at Orlov and said, "I received a call from the commander of the Front of Front of the Front of the Front of the United States this morning, saying that I have been appointed as the commander of the Bryansk by the Supreme Command..."
When Orlov learned that Rokosovsky had been appointed as the commander of the Bryansk Front, he immediately showed a surprised expression on his face. Then he stretched out his hand to Rokosovsky and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, please accept my congratulations to you. Congratulations on your ability to hold a higher-level position!"
"Thank you, General Orlov." When Rokosovsky shook hands with Orlov, he glanced at Sokov's location. However, when the two met, Sokov seemed to feel Rokosovsky saying to himself with his eyes: Misha, you guessed it, I was indeed appointed as the commander of the Bryansk Front by the Supreme Command.
After a moment of pause, Rokosovsky continued: "General Zhukov's meaning is to prepare to let Comrade Malining take over my position, but he refused. Therefore, when I go to Bryansk Front this time, Comrade Malining will accompany me and continue to serve as my chief of staff. In addition, Kazakov, Orel and Maksimenko will also transfer out the Western Front and take office with me."
After announcing these decisions, Rokosovsky's eyes swept back and forth a few steps back and forth on Orlov and Sokov, and asked tentatively: "I called you here for a meeting today, just to ask for your opinions. Do you plan to stay in the 16th Army, or follow me to the Bryansk Front?"
"Comrade Commander," as soon as Rokosovsky finished speaking, Sokov couldn't wait to express his impatience: "I am willing to go with you to the Bryansk Front."
"Major Sokov," Rokosovsky heard Sokov say, and his expression on his face did not change at all. Instead, he said solemnly: "If you continue to stay in the 16th Army, you will soon be officially appointed as the commander of the 31st Guards Division, and your rank will be promoted to lieutenant colonel. But if you go to the Bryansk Front with me, you can only be a commander at best. So you have to consider it carefully, after all, this is a major event that concerns your future."
After finally having an opportunity to hold the future marshal of the Soviet Union, how could Sokov let it go easily? He quickly expressed his opinion: "Comrade Commander, I will go wherever you go. Not to mention the regiment commander, even if you let me be the battalion commander, I will be willing to do so."
Rokosovsky was very satisfied with Sokov's statement, and a smile appeared on his face. Soon, he turned to Orlov and asked, "What do you mean, General Orlov?"
"This, this..." Orlov didn't expect Rokosovsky to ask his opinion directly, and he couldn't help but feel a little panicked, "I need to think about it seriously."
Rokosovsky seemed to attach great importance to Orlov. Hearing this, he immediately expressed his opinion: "General Orlov, I am about to go to the Bryansk Front Army and need a commander with rich experience to assist me in my work. You are the best candidate. I promise you that as long as you agree to go together, let alone the commander of the infantry army, even if you are the commander of a group army, it is OK."
The conditions proposed by Rokosovsky made Orlov feel a little moved, which made him unable to help but turn his head to look at Ratsev beside him. The army political commissar immediately said: "Comrade Commander, although we have not been together for a long time, we are already a whole. No matter what decision you make, I firmly support you."
Although Rokosovsky put forward generous conditions and his partner Ratshev also expressed his attitude, Orkosov still frowned and thought. Seeing Orkosov was so indecisive, Sokov couldn't help but think in his heart: It seemed that Orkosov had never been the one in the list of the 70 commanders of the Soviet army. It seemed that he had rejected Rokosovsky's invitation to him in the end.
"Comrade Commander," Orlov finally asked after a long time of thinking: "Can I ask who will take over your position?"
"My position will be taken over by Major General Bagramiyan, the Minister of Operations of the Southwest Front." Rokosovsky heard from Orlov's question that the other party was unwilling to go to the Bryansk Front with him. He couldn't help but show a disappointed expression on his face. He nodded to the other party and said, "I hope you and the new commander can cooperate well."
Sokov keenly discovered that when Orlov expressed his attitude, not only Rokosovsky was disappointed, but even sitting in Ratshev sighed softly. It seemed that he felt deeply regretful that Orlov missed the opportunity.
After the meeting, Rokosovsky waited for Orlov and Ratshev to leave, and instructed Sokov: "Misha, go back and hurry up and clean up, we will set off at noon tomorrow."
After Rokosovsky finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, can I take the Istrian Battalion to the Bryansk Front Army together?" When he asked this, he had already thought about it. Even if Rokosovsky disagreed, he would still take Wanya, Grissa, Seriosha, Asia and others. With his own team, he could quickly gain a foothold in the new army.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Rokosovsky said simply: "Yes. After all, the Istrian Battalion has been a separate combat unit so far, and even if it is transferred, it will not have any impact."
When Sokov learned that he could take the Istrian Battalion to the new troops, he was overjoyed and quickly raised his hand to his forehead, saluted Rokosovsky, and asked, "Comrade Commander, are you allowed to go back to the army to arrange work now?"
"Yes." Rokosovsky nodded with a smile and said, "We will set out at twelve noon tomorrow. Don't be late for you and your troops."