Chapter 1254

Although vatukin told me that it would only take a few days to rest, our troops would be transferred to the priluki area. However, until the end of September, there was nothing more worthy of special knowledge about the guards than sherekin's. The only regret was that the application for promotion of the 375TH infantry division to the guard division had not been approved by the supreme command. Perhaps to appease the division commander, major general Peter dmitriyevich govorunanko, he was appointed commander of the 18th tank army by his superiors, and he could take office in a week.

After receiving this letter of appointment from the higher authorities, I immediately called govorunanko to the headquarters of the group army to have the necessary conversation with him. Judging from various signs, after govorunanko leaves, the superior will not send a new division commander to the division. Therefore, I would like to ask him for advice to see who is more suitable to take over the post of division commander.

However, our conversation was not pleasant. Govorunanko proposed that the deputy division commander should take over his post, which was rejected by us for lack of ability; The two candidates proposed by chisgakov were also denied by govorunanko because they lacked the overall view.

Just when the atmosphere in the headquarters became dull, kirilov, who went to inspect the political propaganda work of the divisions, came back from the outside. Seeing a room full of silent people, he asked curiously, "what's the matter with you? Why don't you talk? When I was just outside the door, I thought there was no one in the room. "

"Comrade military commissar, this is the case." When he saw kirilov asking, he told him exactly what we were discussing.

Kirilov couldn't help laughing and said to chisgakov, "Comrade deputy commander, since there are no suitable candidates in the 375TH infantry division, why don't we take them from other divisions?"

When kirilov said this, my eyes suddenly brightened. Yes, why do we always consider the selection of division commander in the 375TH infantry division instead of focusing on the whole group army? As I was about to speak, I heard chisgakov rush to say: "Comrade military commissar, at present, all divisions have just finished replenishment, and the work of division commander and deputy division commander is very busy. Where can we find the right person to be the division commander of the 375TH infantry division?"

"Since no one can be selected from the teachers and Deputy teachers, we can consider selecting them from the commander." Kirilov confidently said: "from July to the end of August, there are many regimental commanders with outstanding abilities. They can be competent for higher level work."

"Comrade military commissar," chisgakov heard kirilov say, looked at him with wide eyes and asked curiously, "do you have a suitable candidate?"

"Of course, there are. His ability is good. The troops under his command have achieved a lot in the past two months. But the rank is a little lower. At present, it's only the rank of commander. " Kirilov did not immediately name the person in his mind, but first spoke out the short board of that person. After that, he turned and looked at me with a smile.

When I saw his expression, I could not help thinking about his rank of lieutenant colonel. The name of the candidate he might recommend immediately came to my mind.

"Well, if I say comrades of the military commissar, don't play dumb. Just tell me who it is." "There are dozens of commanders in the whole army, including artillery and tank troops. I can't guess who you want to recommend from so many people," he asked anxiously

Kirilov pounced on me and said, "well, comrade deputy commander, I think Rita has guessed who I'm going to recommend. You can ask her."

After listening to kirilov's words, chisjakov immediately turned to me for help and asked anxiously“ Comrade commander, can you guess who the comrades of the military commissar are going to recommend? "

I looked at kirilov and asked tentatively, "Comrade military commissar, if I guess correctly, you are going to recommend Lieutenant Colonel Lu Jin, head of the 309th regiment of the 51st division of the close guard infantry, to be the division commander of the 375TH division of the infantry, aren't you?"

Kirilov, when I had finished, nodded with a smile, and then said, "yes, I think lieutenant colonel Lukin is the best choice for a teacher." After that, he turned to the commander of the 23rd army of the guard infantry, who was sitting at the table without saying a word: "general tavartkiraze, do you agree with my recommendation?"

When tavartkilaze heard that kirilov had recommended one of his commanders to be the commander of the 375TH infantry division, he was stunned at first. Then he regained his mind, nodded his head and said, "Comrade military commissar, the candidate you recommended is good. He is fully qualified for the position of commander of the 375TH infantry division." At this point, he gave me a smile and said in a friendly way, "Comrade commander, in fact, I want to wait a while longer. If the higher authorities have not appointed a new division commander of the 51st division of Jinwei, they recommend Lieutenant Colonel Lu Jin to take the post of division commander. I didn't expect that he was preempted by the comrades of the military commissar today."

"General tavartkilaze," chisgakov said to him solemnly and immediately after he finished his speech: "as Comrade military commissar has just said, Lieutenant Colonel Lukin's rank is too low and his qualifications are not enough. As commander of the guard division, maybe the headquarters of the front army will not approve him. Since he has the ability, let him be the commander of the 375TH infantry division

As soon as chisjakov finished, I asked while the iron was hot: "do you have any different opinions on lieutenant colonel Lukin's position as commander of the 375TH infantry division?"“ No! " Kirilov answered first“ Neither do I! " Then he answered that tavartkilaze was very happy that his subordinates could become teachers, so he agreed without hesitation. Then chisgakov, bezikov and govorunanko agreed to let lieutenant colonel Lukin be the commander of the 375TH infantry division. When the bill to appoint Lukin as the commander of the 375TH Infantry Division was passed, I picked up the phone and asked the signalman to get through to the headquarters of the front army. I intend to report the appointment to the higher authorities. When I get permission, I can let Lukin take office. As soon as I got through the phone, I heard watujing say in a hurry: "Comrade oshanina, this is really great. I just wanted to call you, but you called first." I listened to watujing's tone of voice very eagerly, then I knew that there was something important. I quickly asked, "senior general, I don't know what important task we have to give us."“ According to intelligence, the German army is retreating in a large scale. It seems that they want to withdraw across the Dnieper River immediately. " Vatukin ordered me on the phone and said, "your group army should take action immediately and pursue the German army in the shortest time. If it is possible to destroy them on the banks of the Dnieper River, if not, immediately cross the Dnieper River and build a landing site on the West Bank of the river, so that the main force of the front army can cross the river and launch a comprehensive attack on the German army. "