As the situation worsened, the situation in the Moscow direction became worse. In order to better protect the city, the Soviet Supreme Command hastily established the 1st Guards Infantry Corps and prepared to appoint Lelyushenko as the commander of the army.
But just when the appointment was about to be issued, something happened. Vlasov and Potapov, who were originally thought to be missing or captured, escaped from the German encirclement. Compared with these two people,
As the deputy head of the Automobile, Armored and Tank Headquarters, Lelyushenko obviously lacked experience in commanding large corps in combat. Therefore, three different opinions emerged on the appointment of the army commander. Lelyushenko, who was originally appointed, became the candidate.
one.
At the meeting of the Supreme Command, Stalin, who was walking back and forth in the room with a pipe in his hand, asked: "Tell me, among these three people, who should be the commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps?"
?”
"Comrade Stalin," the first person to speak was Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ivanov: "Since we have long decided to appoint General Lelyushenko as the commander of the army, we should not adjust the original appointment easily."
Stalin waited for Ivanov to finish speaking, but did not immediately express his position. Instead, he asked the silent Voroshilov: "Comrade Voroshilov, what do you think of this appointment?"
Voroshilov raised his head, looked at Stalin walking back and forth, and said hesitantly: "I don't think General Lelyushenko has been to the front line since the outbreak of the war. Let such a commander with no battlefield command experience...
Served as commander of the Guards Infantry Corps, shoulder
I think it is obviously inappropriate to assume the responsibility of defending Moscow. Major General Potapov has been commanding operations at the front since the outbreak of the war and has accumulated valuable combat experience. If he were to serve as the commander of the army,
I think it’s very appropriate.”
"Comrade Marshal," Ivanov immediately countered: "In the leaflets dropped by the Germans on our positions, it was mentioned that Major General Potapov, the former commander of the First Army, became their prisoner. We
How could a general who had once been a prisoner of the enemy be allowed to command such an important force?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, can't you see that this is a German conspiracy?" Voroshilov, who has been sitting on the bench since returning from Leningrad, cannot tolerate a commander who is lower than himself.
The officer refuted himself and said with a straight face: "If General Potapov really became a prisoner of the Germans, how could he appear in Moscow? I still stick to my opinion and let Major General Potapov serve as the
Commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps."
"What about General Vlasov?" Major General Vasilevsky, who was attending the meeting for the first time, expressed his opinion: "Can't he serve as the commander of the army?"
"I think he is not suitable." Voroshilov shook his head and said: "Anyway, before the loss of Kiev, he served as the commander of the 37th Group Army and the commander of the Kiev garrison. If he is allowed to serve as the army commander,
, which is equivalent to downgraded use. What do you think, old man?" His last words were said to Budyonni, who was sitting opposite him.
As we all know, in the famous 1st Cavalry Army in the 1920s, Budyonny was the commander and Voroshilov was his political commissar. The two had a friendship for more than 20 years. At this moment, Voroshilov
The question was posed to Budyonni, naturally hoping that the other party would support his opinion.
Sure enough, Budyonny nodded after hearing this and said: "I agree with Marshal Voroshilov's proposal that General Potapov will serve as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps."
Seeing that the two marshals had reached an agreement, Ivanov no longer insisted on his own point of view, but turned his attention to Shaposhnikov not far away, wanting to hear his opinion. If he could agree with it
My own proposal, then the post of commander of the Guards can be held by Lelyushenko.
But the old marshal remained silent for a long time without speaking. Apparently he was also thinking about who should take up the position of military commander.
Seeing that the conference room had become quiet, Stalin returned to his seat knowing that everyone was waiting for him to make a decision. However, he did not sit down, but held the table with both hands and leaned forward slightly: "Since Fuluoshi
Both Love and Budyonny feel that Major General Potapov is suitable to serve as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps, so let him serve as the commander."
Seeing that Stalin agreed to his proposal, Voroshilov's face showed a smile, and he then asked: "Comrade Stalin, Potapov is now a major general, should his military rank be adjusted accordingly?
"
Stalin raised his eyebrows and said nothing. He just looked at Voroshilov quietly, trying to figure out why the other party would make such a suggestion?
"Comrade Stalin, the thing is like this." Voroshilov said: "The commander of the 16th Army Rokossovsky, before the outbreak of the war, was Potapov's subordinate with the rank of major general. Now he has
He was promoted to lieutenant general while his original superior, Potapov, was still at the rank of major general. This is obviously inappropriate."
After listening to Voroshilov's explanation, Stalin nodded slightly and said: "In that case, then promote him to the rank of lieutenant general. I hope his performance on the battlefield will not disappoint us."
That afternoon, Potapov, who was staying at the garrison headquarters, was taken to the General Staff Headquarters. Chief of General Staff Shaposhnikov personally talked to him: "Comrade Potapov, after study and decision by the Supreme Command,
Appoint you as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps and immediately go to the direction of Orel-Tula to build new defenses."
"Thank you to the Supreme Command for trusting me." Potapov vowed to Shaposhnikov: "I will never betray your trust in me and resolutely block the Germans from advancing towards Moscow."
Shaposhnikov was very satisfied with Potapov's statement. He nodded, and then asked politely: "General Potapov, what requests can you make? As long as we can do it, we will satisfy it."
Your request."
After hearing what Shaposhnikov said, Potapov immediately remembered his conversation with Sokov and said quickly: "Comrade Marshal, I have a request. I hope that Captain Sokov can be placed under my command.
There is a lack of talented commanders like him around."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Shaposhnikov frowned and asked in confusion: "What does Captain Sokov do? It deserves that I pay so much attention to him."
Vasilevsky, who was standing next to him at this moment, asked Potapov: "General Potapov, is the Captain Sokov you are talking about the one who won the Order of Lenin in August?"
"Yes, that's him." Potapov nodded and added: "He was promoted to the rank of captain at the same time as the medal was awarded."
After Vasilevsky figured out Sokov's identity, he quickly approached Shaposhnikov's ear and whispered what he knew to the old marshal in detail. Shaposhnikov
My husband didn't take it seriously at first. After all, the war had been going on for so long, and there were countless people who had made meritorious deeds. A medal of Lenin didn't mean much. But after hearing the meritorious service awarded by Sokov, he couldn't help but be secretly surprised.
After Vasilevsky finished speaking, Shaposhnikov asked: "General Potapov, where is Captain Sokov now?"
"He is at the garrison headquarters at the moment."
"Garrison Command?" Shaposhnikov asked curiously: "Is he affiliated with the Garrison Command?"
As the situation worsened, the situation in the Moscow direction became worse. In order to better protect the city, the Soviet Supreme Command hastily established the 1st Guards Infantry Corps and prepared to appoint Lelyushenko as the commander of the army.
But just when the appointment was about to be issued, something happened. Vlasov and Potapov, who were originally thought to be missing or captured, escaped from the German encirclement. Compared with these two people,
As the deputy head of the Automobile, Armored and Tank Headquarters, Lelyushenko obviously lacked experience in commanding large corps in combat. Therefore, three different opinions emerged on the appointment of the army commander. Lelyushenko, who was originally appointed, became the candidate.
one.
At the meeting of the Supreme Command, Stalin, who was walking back and forth in the room with a pipe in his hand, asked: "Tell me, among these three people, who should be the commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps?"
?”
"Comrade Stalin," the first person to speak was Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ivanov: "Since we have long decided to appoint General Lelyushenko as the commander of the army, we should not adjust the original appointment easily."
Stalin waited for Ivanov to finish speaking, but did not immediately express his position. Instead, he asked the silent Voroshilov: "Comrade Voroshilov, what do you think of this appointment?"
Voroshilov raised his head, looked at Stalin walking back and forth, and said hesitantly: "I don't think General Lelyushenko has been to the front line since the outbreak of the war. Let such a commander with no battlefield command experience...
Served as commander of the Guards Infantry Corps, shoulder
I think it is obviously inappropriate to assume the responsibility of defending Moscow. Major General Potapov has been commanding operations at the front since the outbreak of the war and has accumulated valuable combat experience. If he were to serve as the commander of the army,
I think it’s very appropriate.”
"Comrade Marshal," Ivanov immediately countered: "In the leaflets dropped by the Germans on our positions, it was mentioned that Major General Potapov, the former commander of the First Army, became their prisoner. We
How could a general who had once been a prisoner of the enemy be allowed to command such an important force?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, can't you see that this is a German conspiracy?" Voroshilov, who has been sitting on the bench since returning from Leningrad, cannot tolerate a commander who is lower than himself.
The officer refuted himself and said with a straight face: "If General Potapov really became a prisoner of the Germans, how could he appear in Moscow? I still stick to my opinion and let Major General Potapov serve as the
Commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps."
"What about General Vlasov?" Major General Vasilevsky, who was attending the meeting for the first time, expressed his opinion: "Can't he serve as the commander of the army?"
"I think he is not suitable." Voroshilov shook his head and said: "Anyway, before the loss of Kiev, he served as the commander of the 37th Group Army and the commander of the Kiev garrison. If he is allowed to serve as the army commander,
, which is equivalent to downgraded use. What do you think, old man?" His last words were said to Budyonni, who was sitting opposite him.
As we all know, in the famous 1st Cavalry Army in the 1920s, Budyonny was the commander and Voroshilov was his political commissar. The two had a friendship for more than 20 years. At this moment, Voroshilov
The question was posed to Budyonni, naturally hoping that the other party would support his opinion.
Sure enough, Budyonny nodded after hearing this and said: "I agree with Marshal Voroshilov's proposal that General Potapov will serve as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps."
Seeing that the two marshals had reached an agreement, Ivanov no longer insisted on his own point of view, but turned his attention to Shaposhnikov not far away, wanting to hear his opinion. If he could agree with it
My own proposal, then the post of commander of the Guards can be held by Lelyushenko.
But the old marshal remained silent for a long time without speaking. Apparently he was also thinking about who should take up the position of military commander.
Seeing that the conference room had become quiet, Stalin returned to his seat knowing that everyone was waiting for him to make a decision. However, he did not sit down, but held the table with both hands and leaned forward slightly: "Since Fuluoshi
Both Love and Budyonny feel that Major General Potapov is suitable to serve as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps, so let him serve as the commander."
Seeing that Stalin agreed to his proposal, Voroshilov's face showed a smile, and he then asked: "Comrade Stalin, Potapov is now a major general, should his military rank be adjusted accordingly?
"
Stalin raised his eyebrows and said nothing. He just looked at Voroshilov quietly, trying to figure out why the other party would make such a suggestion?
"Comrade Stalin, the thing is like this." Voroshilov said: "The commander of the 16th Army Rokossovsky, before the outbreak of the war, was Potapov's subordinate with the rank of major general. Now he has
He was promoted to lieutenant general while his original superior, Potapov, was still at the rank of major general. This is obviously inappropriate."
After listening to Voroshilov's explanation, Stalin nodded slightly and said: "In that case, then promote him to the rank of lieutenant general. I hope his performance on the battlefield will not disappoint us."
That afternoon, Potapov, who was staying at the garrison headquarters, was taken to the General Staff Headquarters. Chief of General Staff Shaposhnikov personally talked to him: "Comrade Potapov, after study and decision by the Supreme Command,
Appoint you as the commander of the 1st Guards Infantry Corps and immediately go to the direction of Orel-Tula to build new defenses."
"Thank you to the Supreme Command for trusting me." Potapov vowed to Shaposhnikov: "I will never betray your trust in me and resolutely block the Germans from advancing towards Moscow."
After hearing what Shaposhnikov said, Potapov immediately remembered his conversation with Sokov and said quickly: "Comrade Marshal, I have a request. I hope that Captain Sokov can be placed under my command.
There is a lack of talented commanders like him around."