Red Moscow

  Chapter 2200

  A German tank mixed into the Soviet offensive queue and caused a lot of casualties to the Soviet army. This is indeed a shameful thing. When Sokov heard the news, he was really dumbfounded.

  He said to Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I really didn't expect that the Germans were so cunning, causing our troops to pay many unnecessary casualties."

"That's right, Comrade Commander, no one would have imagined that a German tank survived the heavy shelling by our army." Sidolin said, "What is even more unexpected is that this After a German tank got into our army's battle sequence, no one noticed it, and thought they were their own tanks. If they hadn't exposed their identities when they bombarded our army's command cabin, we don't know what will happen to us in the future What a loss."

"We must learn this lesson." Sokov said to Sidolin: "After this battle is over, we will hold a special summary meeting to discuss this matter. When our commanders are fighting, they should pay attention Something. Don't cause huge losses to the troops because of your underestimation and carelessness."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidolin wrote down what Sokov said in his notebook: "I remembered that at the summary meeting after this battle, I plan to focus on discussing this matter to avoid similar The incident recurred in the ensuing battle."

   "That's right, it should be like this." Sokov said to Sidolin: "The battle is almost over. I think we can report our results to the Front Army Command."

   "I have already written the report." Sidolin took out the written report and handed it to Sokov: "I will send someone to the Front Army Command later."

When Sidolin called the messenger and was about to send the report to the headquarters of the front army, Lunev said: "Misha, I don't think it is necessary to do anything extra. Comrade Marshal has so much work every day, how could he notice What about such a small thing?"

"This incident was our negligence, and we should learn a lesson." Sokov said: "If we report this incident, maybe Comrade Marshal will report it to the entire front army, so that all troops can learn from it. Try to avoid similar incidents from happening in the future." After finishing speaking, he waved to the signal soldier and ordered, "Hurry up and send the report to the front army headquarters."

   Half an hour later, Rokossovsky received the report sent by Sidolin. After reading it, he couldn't help frowning. Upon seeing this, Bogolyubov quickly asked: "Comrade Marshal, what's the matter with you? I think you have read the report sent by the 48th Army, and you seem to have something on your mind."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I am very sad." Rokossovsky threw the report on the table and said, "We haven't won the final victory, and there is a situation of fighting for credit in the army. If it weren't for Fei Juninsky made his own decisions, and I am afraid that the attack on the German Panzer Army will end in failure."

   Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Bogolyubov quickly picked up the report on the table and browsed it carefully. After reading the report, his expression also became serious: "Comrade Marshal, I really didn't expect that General Batov would do such a thing."

   After hearing this, Su Bojing, who was sitting next to him, asked quickly: "Comrade Marshal, Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened? How did I find out that the expressions of both of you are a little bit wrong?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, the situation is like this." Bogolyubov knew that it would take a lot of time to read the report again, so he focused on explaining to Subbotin: "General Sokov's men were captured by the Germans. He learned that the German Panzer Army will retreat at night. After hearing the news, General Sokov took the initiative to contact General Batov to discuss joint operations. But General Batov excused himself , In private, he took the initiative to contact Fejuninsky’s 2nd Assault Army, and wanted to join them in attacking the retreating GrossGerman Panzer Army.”

Subbotin said with some surprise: "But our army's attack on the Greater German Panzer Army was successful. And the participating troops include not only the 65th Army of General Batov, but also the 2nd Assault Army of General Fejuninsky. Army Group, as well as General Sokov's 48th Army Group. Where did the claim of refusing to cooperate with Sokov's troops come from?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, don't worry, this is exactly the point I want to explain." Bogolyubov said: "When Feduninsky received a call from Batov, he checked the map carefully and found that Although its own combat area is bordered by the 65th Army, and there are even some overlaps, but to enter the position to attack the Greater German Panzer Army, it still needs to pass through an area occupied by the German army. The operations of the 48th Army and the 65th Army Although the area is separated by his combat area, due to the faster advancing speed of the friendly forces on the two wings and leaving him far behind, the closest place is now only five kilometers away. If they fight together, Can achieve good results.

   After repeated consideration, General Fejuninsky felt that it was necessary to contact General Sokov. Only by sending troops from the 48th Army can it cause huge damage to the retreating German army. But he also considered that inviting Sokov's troops to participate in this battle in the name of assisting the 65th Army in combat might hurt General Batov's face. So he changed his mind and let them participate in the ambush in the name of inviting the 48th Army to assist him in combat. "

   Bogolyubov finally said: "If General Batov could agree to Sokov's request earlier and join forces with the 48th Army, maybe he could achieve greater results."

  After listening to Bogolyubov's narration, Subbotin couldn't help but frowned. He looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade Marshal, if what is written in General Sokov's report is true, then General Batov should be criticized."

   "Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissioner." But Rokossovsky waved his hands after hearing this, and said to Subbotin: "I'll call Fejuninsky and see what he says."

   Bogolyubov heard that Rokossovsky was going to talk to Fejuninsky, so he quickly dialed the phone. When he heard someone speaking in the microphone, he took the initiative to identify himself: "I am General Bogolyubov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army. Is your commander, General Fejuninsky, here? Comrade Marshal wants to speak to him."

   A moment later, Fejuninsky's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, General Bogolyubov, I am Fejuninsky."

"Please wait a moment, General Fejuninsky, I'll ask Comrade Marshal to answer the phone right away." Bogolyubov covered the receiver with his hand, and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, Fejuninsky General Key is on the line waiting to speak to you."

"Comrade Feduninsky?" Rokossovsky took the microphone and put it close to his ear, instead of calling him by his nickname as usual, he called him by his first name: "Tell me about the German military camp near you at night." The situation of the German Panzer Army. Who initiated this matter?"

   Fejuninsky knew that the fire could not be covered with paper. Even if he didn't report it himself, maybe Rokossovsky would know about it through a special news channel. Hearing his question now, he truthfully reported what happened to Rokossovsky.

Rokossovsky confirmed from Fejuninsky's report that the 48th Army's report was accurate, nodded and said: "Comrade Fejuninsky, you are doing the right thing. It is because of your selflessness that we were able to achieve such great results in the ambush of the German army."

After Subotin waited for Rokossovsky to put down the microphone, he said with lingering fear: "Comrade Marshal, fortunately, General Fejuninsky was involved in this matter. If he hadn't invited the 48th Army to join the battle in his own name, I think it would have been impossible for him to join the battle yesterday." It may be difficult to achieve any desired results in the late ambush. On the contrary, the troops participating in the attack may suffer huge losses. How do you plan to deal with General Batov?"

Although he asked this question in his mouth, Su Bojing didn't think so in his heart. He knew that Batov was Rokossovsky's favorite general. There are no real penalties. This matter, whether it is big or small, it is entirely possible for Rokossovsky to turn it into a small matter, and finally let it go.

   Regarding the question raised by Subbotin, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time, and finally said: "I will call and criticize Batov later, so as to prevent him from making similar mistakes in the future."

   When Su Bojing heard it, everything was as he had judged. Rokossovsky was not willing to punish his favorite general, so he just verbally criticized a few words and it was over. After a moment of silence, he asked tentatively, "What about General Sokov?"

   "I'll call Misha to explain," Rokossovsky said rather helplessly, "I hope he can be reasonable and not continue to entangle in this matter."

  When Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky, he was ready to be criticized. After all, he allowed a German tank to mix into his combat troops and caused a certain degree of casualties. Unexpectedly, when the other party opened his mouth, Sokov was taken aback. Rokossovsky said, "Misha, I'm really sorry, you have been wronged by this matter."

   Sokov was taken aback when he heard this, what does it mean to make himself wronged? Shouldn't you be criticizing yourself for negligently causing a German tank to sneak into the middle of the team without being noticed? He hesitated for a while, then said quietly: "Comrade Marshal, I thought you called me because you were planning to criticize me."

   "Criticize you?!" Rokossovsky was stunned after hearing this, and then asked, "Why should I criticize you?"

   "Didn't you read the report we sent?"

   "I just called to apologize to you after reading the report."

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov turned his head and glanced at Sidolin next to him, thinking to himself, what exactly did he write in the report, and why did Comrade Marshal not only did not criticize himself after reading it, but Instead, he called and apologized to himself?

"Comrade Marshal, I don't quite understand. After reading the report, shouldn't you call and criticize our work for not being meticulous?" Sokov couldn't ask Sidolin what he wrote in the report in a short time. , I can only bite the bullet and say: "But how can I apologize to us, I don't understand."

   Although Rokossovsky did not understand why Sokov said that, he felt that there must be some misunderstanding. So he made further explanations: "You mentioned in your report that you had submitted a request for a joint operation to General Batov, but he had rejected it. If it wasn't for Fejuninsky's own initiative, let you participate in this In the next night attack, I am afraid we will not be able to cause such losses to the enemy."

  After listening to Rokossovsky's explanation, Sokov immediately figured out what was going on. Emotional Rokossovsky focused all his attention on joint operations, and did not pay attention to the trivial matter of a German tank sneaking into the middle of the combat troops under the cover of night.

"Misha," Rokossovsky continued, "I know very well what Batov did. He was worried that your troops would steal his limelight. That's why this night attack was deliberately stepped forward." through you, directly to Fejuninsky..."

"Comrade Marshal, you don't need to say any more." Sokov interrupted Rokossovsky and said directly: "I can understand General Batov's mood. After all, after the night attack started, his troops suffered a lot. The pressure is the greatest. And we followed the enemy's actions and launched an attack in the dark. It was difficult for the enemy to organize a decent resistance. Maybe in the end, my troops suffered few casualties, but achieved considerable results. And Batov The General's troops made great sacrifices and achieved very limited results."

"Misha, I really didn't expect you to be so generous." Rokossovsky was very satisfied with Sokov's performance: "I did not misread you." After a pause, he thought of Sokov After what I just said, I couldn't help but ask, "Misha, you said that after I read the report, I would specially call to criticize you. What's going on?"

"Comrade Marshal, there is one thing mentioned in our report." Sokov mixed a German tank into the troops at night, and launched a surprise attack when the commanders and fighters were unprepared, causing certain losses to the participating troops. Rokossovsky was briefed in detail.

   When Rokossovsky read the report, he did see this content, but he didn't take it seriously at all. After all, it was a German tank. How much threat could it pose to the troops? The big deal is to mention this matter to the commanders who participated in the meeting during the post-war summary, so that everyone can be vigilant in future battles and avoid similar things from happening again.

   "Misha, so this is what happened, I know." Rokossovsky said lightly: "Be careful in the future, and just don't let similar things happen again."

After Sokov finished talking with Rokossovsky, Lunev leaned over and said to Sokov, "Misha, I'm right. To Rokosovs, who commands thousands of troops, For Marshal Ji, it's just a trivial matter, even if you write it in the report, he won't care."

  Sokov nodded helplessly, and said in agreement: "Comrade Military Commissioner, you are right. It is indeed a bit unnecessary for us to write this matter in the report."

  (end of this chapter)