Chapter 1486

Rebalko's praise to me made me feel very embarrassed. I quickly interrupted him with a wave of my hand and said modestly, "general rebalko, you flatter me. I'm not as capable as you said. I'm just lucky enough to win a few battles occasionally. "

"Comrade deputy commander of the front army, don't be modest." After listening to rebalko's words, the chief of staff's face became relaxed. He said to me with a smile, "it's not a short time for me to partner with the commander, but it's the first time I've seen him praise someone so much. But when he says that, I feel at ease. "

After the chief of staff sat down, I humbly asked rebalko, "Comrade General, what are you going to do with the attack tomorrow?"

Rebalko pushed the map in front of me, pointed to it and said, "as tarnopol is the old bastion area of our country, there are many strong fortifications outside the city. Before the attack, we need to use intensive artillery fire to open a gap so that our tanks can guide the infantry to the city

When I heard the term "old fortified area", I felt headache, which meant that our army would occupy the city, and it was bound to launch a difficult battle with the German army on the periphery. Those reinforced concrete fortifications, even under the heavy artillery attack of our army, can support for a long time. No wonder rebalko just said that it will take at least half a month to capture the city.

However, since I have only given them one week, the adjustment at this moment will definitely affect my prestige in their eyes. It seems that if we want to capture the city as soon as possible, we need to think of other ways.

Although I was worried in my heart, on the surface, I pretended to be no trouble and asked rebalko easily: "Comrade General, if the superior really sends troops to assist, can you capture the city within the time I said?"

"I don't know which army it is?" Hearing my question, the chief of staff couldn't help but look at it. He said cautiously, "if it's just one or two divisions, we can't effectively improve our ability to tackle key problems. If we want to liberate the city as soon as possible, I think we need at least a mechanized army. "

After hearing the data mentioned by the chief of staff, rebalko seemed a little excited. He turned to look at me and asked tentatively, "Rita, do you think the superior will send troops to support us?"

I looked down at the map in front of me and found that the 13th group army of lieutenant general pokhov was now attacking the city and plundering the land to the north of jernopol. If I proposed to Zhukov that we should transfer troops from this army to assist rebarko in seizing jernopol, it would not be a big problem.

When I made up my mind, I looked up at rebalko and said solemnly, "Comrade General, to the north of the city, there is general pokhov's 13th army. They are less than 60 kilometers away from tarnopol. I'll call Marshal Zhukov right now. If he agrees to send the 13th army to support you, it will be easier to seize the city. "

As soon as I finished, I heard the chief of staff yelling excitedly at several radio operators beside the wall: "Hey, come here quickly and help the deputy commander of the front army answer the phone. You should get in touch with the headquarters of the front army in the shortest time."

After a short wait, I got through to the front command. Hearing that the person who answered the phone was chief of staff Bogoliubov, I said in a friendly way: "Hello, chief of staff, is Marshal Zhukov in? I have something important to discuss with him. "

When he heard that it was my voice, Bogoliubov said unexpectedly, "it turned out to be Comrade deputy commander. Do you have anything important to do with Marshal?"

I thought that he was the chief of staff. If Zhukov was not there, it would be the same to report to him, so I said, "general rebalko's troops will launch an attack on tarnopol tomorrow, but after a long time of fighting, they have suffered a lot in terms of strength and technical equipment. So I would like to ask Marshal comrade to send an army to support them."

"Comrade marshal is not in the headquarters now." After I finished, Bogoliubov didn't make a statement immediately, but unexpectedly said, "I'll call the chief of staff to answer the phone. You can tell him."

Bogoliubov's words confused me. After a moment's hesitation, I asked, "general Bogoliubov, aren't you the chief of staff of the front army? Where is a new chief of staff?"

"Well, comrade oshanina." Bogoliubov apologetically said to me: "according to the order of the higher authorities, I will go to the newly formed Belarusian third front army tomorrow to serve as chief of staff. Now the chief of staff here is general sokolovsky. You should know him."

"Yes, I know general sokolovsky." From Bogoliubov's words, I know that the higher authorities changed the military commissars of the front army, and even the chief of staff at the same time. But fortunately, I have dealt with sokolovsky before, and I get along well with him, so I politely said: "please give him the phone, I want to have a few words with him."

A moment later, sokolovsky's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, is that Rita?"

When I heard that another general called me by my nickname, I couldn't help smiling. I said to the microphone, "Hello, general sokolovsky. Welcome to our front army."

"Rita, I'm handing over with general Bogoliubov," sokolovsky said anxiously. "I don't have much time. If you have anything, please tell me quickly."

When I said that rebalko's troops needed the cooperation of friendly forces to attack jernopol, he was silent. After a long time, he hesitated and said, "Rita, I can't decide this matter. You know, the commander of the front army is Marshal Zhukov. I can only give him advice and assist him in his work. I can't make any decision on these matters." He said this, suddenly a little hesitant, "and... And... That, there seems to be some contradiction between marshal and general rebalko."

Sokolovsky's words surprised me. I remember that in the Soviet movies I saw, Zhukov and rebalko got along very well. How could he say there was a contradiction between them?

Seeing that I put down the phone, military commissar melinikov suddenly said, "general oshanina, I see your surprised expression. Are you surprised to hear that there is a contradiction between our commander and marshal?"

I didn't hide my point of view on melinikov's question, so I nodded and said, "yes, comrade military commissar, I also find it strange that general rebalko and Marshal Zhukov have conflicts."

"It's a long story," melinikov said. He got up and poured a cup of tea in the teapot beside the wall. He put it in front of me and continued, "rebalko is a mature, professional and confident military chief who has acquired profound theoretical literacy and command experience in many aspects. He has extraordinary self-control, which is combined with perseverance and strong will, which is clearly reflected in his whole action.

He never does things by means of concession, appeasement, flattery or forgiveness. On the contrary, the most stringent requirements are often given to subordinates - which is necessary in the military. But at the same time, they are very impartial and considerate. He has very correctly established his relationship with the Military Commission. In the third group army of the close guard tank, the Military Commission is an excellent and United leading body, working together. Of course, the commander has an unquestionable leading position. "

When I heard that melenikov gave rebarko such a high evaluation, I could not help looking curiously at rebarko sitting next to him. I saw that he was sitting in his seat without expression, looking down at the map in front of him.

Meilenikov technology said: "but when a commander of a very high level gives his subordinates a combat mission, he is like a ruthless person. He doesn't know that he is sitting in front of a group of living people, and he doesn't know these people, he always makes me feel a kind of disgust in my heart. Such leaders usually dictate orders to themselves without even glancing at the people around them: "first, about the enemy..."; Second, about our army; Third, your task is; I order you to wait. It seems that everything is right in form, but it has no soul and has no connection with its subordinates.

The reason why I use the contrast method to describe this senior commander is that rebalko is the opposite of this kind of person. When he put forward tasks and orders to his subordinates, of course, he expressed them in accordance with all the rules of military science, but at the same time, he often felt the human factor. Moreover, he regards people as another kind of people, not just mechanical executors... "

Although melenikov never mentioned who the commander was, I knew in my heart that he was talking about Zhukov. The contradiction between Zhukov and rebalko is nothing more than a difference in command style, not a deep hatred. But now I seem to understand why Zhukov let rebarko attack jernopol, but did not send troops to support him.

After thinking about the whole story, I expressed my opinion to several people: "in order to win, I think the personal grudges should be put down for the time being." At this point, I turned to rebalko and said to him in a friendly tone, "it's very difficult for you to win talnopol in a short period of time. Well, I'll go and make a request to Marshal Zhukov that general pokhov's 13th army cooperate with you to capture tarnopol. Do you think that's all right? "

After listening to me, rebalko showed a grateful expression on his face, but he still hesitated and said, "Rita, will this make you conflict with the marshal?"

As for rebalko's worries, I also thought of them. However, according to my understanding of Zhukov, as long as we grasp his weakness, it is entirely possible for the 13th army to cooperate with us. Even if Zhukov didn't agree, I could exercise my right to transfer troops from the group army to assist rebarko. But in this way, the relationship between Zhukov and me will become rigid.

After weighing things up, I think I should call Zhukov again. I raised my hand and looked at my watch. It was a quarter of an hour since I called last time. I don't know if Zhukov has come back at this time. But I still picked up the phone and was ready to take a chance.

My tone is good this time. I found Zhukov who just returned to the headquarters of the front army. When he heard my voice, he was a little surprised and asked, "Rita, you call me. What can I do for you?"

I quickly reported to rebalko that they were going to attack jernopol, but they were a little weak and needed some assistance. After listening to my report, Zhukov kept silent and didn't make a statement. When I heard that there was no voice coming from the receiver, I was a little worried, so I raised my voice and said, "marshal, you should know that tarnopol is an old fortified area, where there are solid fortifications. Although our army failed to use these fortifications effectively in the early days of the Patriotic War, at this moment when we launched an attack on this city, these damned fortifications, It will certainly bring a lot of trouble to our army. " Before I finished my speech, Zhukov interrupted me. He said in an impassioned voice, "I used to be the commander of the Ukrainian special military region. I know better than you what the old fortification area is." Zhukov's words made me blush with shame. When I was thinking about how to go on, I heard him continue to say, "by the way, I heard that you gave Comrade Khrushchev a good suggestion today." I can't keep up with Zhukov's jumping thinking. Looking at them sitting beside me, I can't speak too clearly. I can only say vaguely in front of the microphone, "yes, I gave him a little advice." However, after hearing this, Zhukov said excitedly, "this proposal is very good. Let me tell you the truth. I'm worried about the soldiers. The troops transferred from Central Asia can't satisfy our current troops at all. If we really recruit troops from the recovered Ukrainian areas, our troops will be able to get the necessary complement in the shortest time. " When I find out what Zhukov said, it turns out that it's about replenishing soldiers, I'll let go of my worries. Even if they hear about it, it doesn't matter“ Marshal, it may take several months of military training to add these soldiers to the army. "