In the next week, the battle continued in the Mtsensk area. Although the tank brigade was at a disadvantage compared to the German army in terms of strength and equipment, due to Katukov's excellent command, the tank brigade achieved victory.
A good record. In the eight-day battle, 133 enemy tanks were destroyed, 2 aircraft were shot down, and nearly 2,000 German soldiers were killed.
Precisely because of the outstanding performance of the tank brigade, the Orlyol-Tula defense battle commanded by Potapov was recognized by the Supreme Command.
In a meeting of the Supreme Command held shortly afterwards, Voroshilov proposed to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, General Zhukov returned to Moscow from Leningrad two days ago and took over Konev's command of the Western Front. They are
The main force defending Moscow. In order to strengthen their strength, I propose to reorganize the 5th Army and let General Potapov once again assume the position of commander of the Army."
Regarding Voroshilov's proposal, Stalin did not immediately express his position. Instead, he looked at the people attending the meeting and asked: "Comrades, what do you think of Marshal Voroshilov's proposal?"
Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was sitting under Stalin, glanced at everyone's faces and spoke first: "Comrade Stalin, judging from the results of the recent Mtsensk defense battle, if the Third Army is reorganized,
The 5th Army, and allowing General Potapov to continue to serve as commander, will definitely achieve more brilliant results."
Two marshals were the first to express their stance and set an example for everyone. When the others spoke, they also agreed to rebuild the 5th Army. After all, the German army is getting closer to Moscow. It is always good to have an extra force to defend the city. But is it right?
Let Potapov serve as the commander of the group army, but there are
With different opinions, Ustinov, the youngest People's Commissar, proposed: "I think the candidate for the commander of the 5th Army is still debatable. You must know that the 1st Guards Army is responsible for defending Orliol-Tula. If Poland is replaced,
General Tapov is transferred back, who will take his place?"
"When the 1st Guards Army was formed, someone once suggested that General Lelyushenko should serve as the commander of the army." Voroshilov said: "I think he can completely replace Potapov.
His position is to command the 1st Guards Corps."
After saying this, Voroshilov looked at Stalin who was sitting there smoking, and asked respectfully: "Comrade Stalin, what do you think?"
Stalin took the pipe out of his mouth, knocked it on the ashtray, and then said: "I agree that Comrade Lelyushenko will succeed Potapov as the commander of the Guards Corps. Marshal Shaposhnikov
, if we want to reorganize the 5th Army, what troops do you think we can provide now?"
Shaposhnikov took out a small book, looked at it, and then said: "Comrade Stalin, the newly formed 5th Army should include the 132nd and 133rd Infantry Divisions, the 18th Tank Brigade, the 19th Tank Brigade and the 19th Tank Brigade.
20th Brigade, 36th Motorized Regiment, as well as 4 anti-tank artillery regiments and 5 Guards Mortar Battalions."
But as soon as Shaposhnikov finished speaking, Stalin frowned: "Marshal Shaposhnikov, I remember that the 36th Motorized Regiment is affiliated with the 1st Guards Army. If it is organized into
If you join the 5th Army, doesn't that weaken the strength of the 1st Guards Army?"
"Comrade Stalin," Shaposhnikov saw the displeasure on Stalin's face and quickly explained to him: "Even if the 5th Army is rebuilt today, it will probably take a few more days for the units I just mentioned.
Arrive at the designated location. Currently, the only troops General Potapov can use are the 36th Motorized Regiment."
"Oh, so that's it." Stalin took out two cigarettes from the cigarette case, crushed them with his fingers, then stuffed the tobacco into the pipe, and said slowly: "Marshal Shaposhnikov, do you think the third cigarette should be replaced?"
Where is the 5th Army deployed?"
"Comrade Stalin, the main forces of the Western Front, Bryansk Front and Reserve Front are surrounded by the German Army Group Center in the Vyazma area. The situation west of Moscow is extremely dangerous. I suggest that we can build a front line in Mozhaysk
The new defense line will be based on the fortification troops, plus the troops I just mentioned, to form a new 5th Army, so that they can form combat effectiveness in a very short period of time."
"I think it's okay." After Stalin agreed to Shaposhnikov's suggestion, he brought up another matter: "By the way, regarding Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, the commander of the 16th Group Army, he led the army commander without authorization
How do you think we should handle the issue of our troops leaving the unit and completely losing contact with their superiors?"
"Comrade Stalin, abandoning his troops on the battlefield and running away is an act of cowardice and must not be tolerated." Molotov, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said: "I suggest that an investigation team be set up immediately and go to the Western Front Headquarters
, launch an investigation into this matter.”
Regarding Molotov's proposal, Stalin expressed his approval: "I agree with Molotov's proposal. An investigation team should be immediately set up to go to the Western Front Headquarters to investigate Lieutenant General Rokossovsky's bad behavior of abandoning his troops and escaping without authorization.
Launch an investigation. I think the members of the investigation team are composed of Voroshilov, Molotov and Bulganin. As soon as the meeting is over, you will rush to the Western Front Headquarters."
"Okay, Comrade Stalin, as soon as the meeting is over, we will immediately go to the Western Front Headquarters to investigate the matter." Voroshilov asked tentatively: "If the matter is true, then how should we deal with Rokoso?
Vski?"
"Needless to say, he will definitely be sent to a military court." Molotov said angrily: "When the battlefield situation was most critical, as a group army commander, not only did he not organize troops to resist, but he threw
He dismounted his troops and fled. This kind of bad behavior cannot be tolerated."
In the next week, the battle continued in the Mtsensk area. Although the tank brigade was at a disadvantage compared to the German army in terms of strength and equipment, due to Katukov's excellent command, the tank brigade achieved victory.
A good record. In the eight-day battle, 133 enemy tanks were destroyed, 2 aircraft were shot down, and nearly 2,000 German soldiers were killed.
Precisely because of the outstanding performance of the tank brigade, the Orlyol-Tula defense battle commanded by Potapov was recognized by the Supreme Command.
In a meeting of the Supreme Command held shortly afterwards, Voroshilov proposed to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, General Zhukov returned to Moscow from Leningrad two days ago and took over Konev's command of the Western Front. They are
The main force defending Moscow. In order to strengthen their strength, I propose to reorganize the 5th Army and let General Potapov once again assume the position of commander of the Army."
Regarding Voroshilov's proposal, Stalin did not immediately express his position. Instead, he looked at the people attending the meeting and asked: "Comrades, what do you think of Marshal Voroshilov's proposal?"
Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was sitting under Stalin, glanced at everyone's faces and spoke first: "Comrade Stalin, judging from the results of the recent Mtsensk defense battle, if the Third Army is reorganized,
The 5th Army, and allowing General Potapov to continue to serve as commander, will definitely achieve more brilliant results."
Two marshals were the first to express their stance and set an example for everyone. When the others spoke, they also agreed to rebuild the 5th Army. After all, the German army is getting closer to Moscow. It is always good to have an extra force to defend the city. But is it right?
Let Potapov serve as the commander of the group army, but there are
With different opinions, Ustinov, the youngest People's Commissar, proposed: "I think the candidate for the commander of the 5th Army is still debatable. You must know that the 1st Guards Army is responsible for defending Orliol-Tula. If Poland is replaced,
General Tapov is transferred back, who will take his place?"
"When the 1st Guards Army was formed, someone once suggested that General Lelyushenko should serve as the commander of the army." Voroshilov said: "I think he can completely replace Potapov.
His position is to command the 1st Guards Corps."
After saying this, Voroshilov looked at Stalin who was sitting there smoking, and asked respectfully: "Comrade Stalin, what do you think?"
Stalin took the pipe out of his mouth, knocked it on the ashtray, and then said: "I agree that Comrade Lelyushenko will succeed Potapov as the commander of the Guards Corps. Marshal Shaposhnikov
, if we want to reorganize the 5th Army, what troops do you think we can provide now?"
Shaposhnikov took out a small book, looked at it, and then said: "Comrade Stalin, the newly formed 5th Army should include the 132nd and 133rd Infantry Divisions, the 18th Tank Brigade, the 19th Tank Brigade and the 19th Tank Brigade.
20th Brigade, 36th Motorized Regiment, as well as 4 anti-tank artillery regiments and 5 Guards Mortar Battalions."
But as soon as Shaposhnikov finished speaking, Stalin frowned: "Marshal Shaposhnikov, I remember that the 36th Motorized Regiment is affiliated with the 1st Guards Army. If it is organized into
If you join the 5th Army, doesn't that weaken the strength of the 1st Guards Army?"
"Comrade Stalin," Shaposhnikov saw the displeasure on Stalin's face and quickly explained to him: "Even if the 5th Army is rebuilt today, it will probably take a few more days for the units I just mentioned.
Arrive at the designated location. Currently, the only troops General Potapov can use are the 36th Motorized Regiment."
"Oh, so that's it." Stalin took out two cigarettes from the cigarette case, crushed them with his fingers, then stuffed the tobacco into the pipe, and said slowly: "Marshal Shaposhnikov, do you think the third cigarette should be replaced?"
Where is the 5th Army deployed?"
"Comrade Stalin, the main forces of the Western Front, Bryansk Front and Reserve Front are surrounded by the German Army Group Center in the Vyazma area. The situation west of Moscow is extremely dangerous. I suggest that we can build a front line in Mozhaysk
The new defense line will be based on the fortification troops, plus the troops I just mentioned, to form a new 5th Army, so that they can form combat effectiveness in a very short period of time."
"I think it's okay." After Stalin agreed to Shaposhnikov's suggestion, he brought up another matter: "By the way, regarding Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, the commander of the 16th Group Army, he led the army commander without authorization
How do you think we should handle the issue of our troops leaving the unit and completely losing contact with their superiors?"
"Comrade Stalin, abandoning his troops on the battlefield and running away is an act of cowardice and must not be tolerated." Molotov, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said: "I suggest that an investigation team be set up immediately and go to the Western Front Headquarters
, launch an investigation into this matter.”
Regarding Molotov's proposal, Stalin expressed his approval: "I agree with Molotov's proposal. An investigation team should be immediately set up to go to the Western Front Headquarters to investigate Lieutenant General Rokossovsky's bad behavior of abandoning his troops and escaping without authorization.
Launch an investigation. I think the members of the investigation team are composed of Voroshilov, Molotov and Bulganin. As soon as the meeting is over, you will rush to the Western Front Headquarters."
"Okay, Comrade Stalin, as soon as the meeting is over, we will immediately go to the Western Front Headquarters to investigate the matter." Voroshilov asked tentatively: "If the matter is true, then how should we deal with Rokoso?
Vski?"
"Needless to say, he will definitely be sent to a military court." Molotov said angrily: "When the battlefield situation was most critical, as a group army commander, not only did he not organize troops to resist, but he threw
He dismounted his troops and fled. This kind of bad behavior cannot be tolerated." In the next week, the fighting continued.
In the Mtsensk area, although the tank brigade was at a disadvantage compared to the German army in terms of strength and equipment, due to Katukov's excellent command, the tank brigade achieved good results. During the eight-day period
During the battle, 133 enemy tanks were destroyed, 2 aircraft were shot down, and nearly 2,000 German soldiers were killed.
Precisely because of the outstanding performance of the tank brigade, the Orlyol-Tula defense battle commanded by Potapov was recognized by the Supreme Command.
In a meeting of the Supreme Command held shortly afterwards, Voroshilov proposed to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, General Zhukov returned to Moscow from Leningrad two days ago and took over Konev's command of the Western Front. They are
The main force defending Moscow. In order to strengthen their strength, I propose to reorganize the 5th Army and let General Potapov once again assume the position of commander of the Army."
Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was sitting under Stalin, glanced at everyone's faces and spoke first: "Comrade Stalin, judging from the results of the recent Mtsensk defense battle, if the Third Army is reorganized,
The 5th Army, and allowing General Potapov to continue to serve as commander, will definitely achieve more brilliant results."
Two marshals were the first to express their stance and set an example for everyone. When the others spoke, they also agreed to rebuild the 5th Army. After all, the German army is getting closer to Moscow. It is always good to have an extra force to defend the city. But is it right?
Let Potapov serve as the commander of the group army, but there are
With different opinions, Ustinov, the youngest People's Commissar, proposed: "I think the candidate for the commander of the 5th Army is still debatable. You must know that the 1st Guards Army is responsible for defending Orliol-Tula. If Poland is replaced,
General Tapov is transferred back, who will take his place?"