red moscow

Chapter 2789 Becoming a Liaison Officer Again

After finishing his conversation with Stalin, Zhukov came to Rokossovsky and asked in a gentle tone: "Koschka, do you have any troops?"

"After I left Vyazma, I met the 18th Militia Division commanded by Colonel Chernyshev on my way to the border." Rokossovsky replied, "Although this unit lacks the necessary training and the soldiers have little combat experience. But I currently have no troops to use, so I ask you to give this unit to me."

"I agree." Zhukov nodded and agreed to Rokossovsky's request: "In addition to this unit, I will add new troops to you as soon as possible. Your mission is to enter the Mozhaysk battle area and cover the Minsk Highway..."

"Excuse me, Comrade Zhukov, I interrupt you." Before Zhukov could finish his words, Voroshilov interrupted and said, "According to the decision of the Supreme Command, the defense of the Mozhaisk area should be handed over to General Potapov's 5th Army."

"General Potapov's Fifth Army?" After hearing what Voroshilov said, Zhukov turned around and asked, "Comrade Marshal, I wonder where this army you are talking about is now? Why haven't I heard of it?"

"So this unit does not exist yet." Voroshilov replied somewhat awkwardly, "But they will be formed in the near future and stationed in the Mozhaisk area."

"Well, since the Supreme Command has made a decision, I will obey it." Zhukov said, turning to Rokossovsky and said, "Since Mozhaisk is under the responsibility of the Fifth Army, your 5th Army will move northward into the Volokolamsk area, where you will bring all the troops you can accommodate under your command, and then organize defense from the Moscow Sea in the north to the Ruza River in the south."

After Konev and Rokossovsky left, Molotov said to Voroshilov: "Comrade Marshal, our mission to the Western Front has been completed. Should we return to Moscow immediately?"

"Comrade Molotov, please wait outside for me. I have a few words to say to General Zhukov."

"Okay, Comrade Marshal, Bulganin and I will be waiting for you outside."

"Comrade Marshal," Zhukov asked directly when he saw that only Voroshilov and he were left in the room, without beating around the bush: "What do you want to say to me?"

"A month ago, you took over my command in Leningrad and saved the city from danger." Voroshilov looked at Zhukov and asked sternly, "Now, you have returned to Moscow from Leningrad. How about it? Can you create miracles again and crush the German threat to Moscow?"

Facing the question raised by Voroshilov, Zhukov sighed softly and then said: "Comrade Marshal, I can only tell you that I will do my best."

Voroshilov looked at Zhukov in surprise. He never dreamed that the confidence that Zhukov, who had taken over the command of the Leningrad Front from him a month ago and discussed with him whether they could crush the German occupation of Leningrad, had shown would have disappeared.

Zhukov saw Voroshilov's doubts and explained to him: "Comrade Marshal, the situation in Leningrad at that time did seem very dangerous, but we had enough troops to defend it. But now, the main forces of the Western Front, Bryansk Front and Reserve Front, which were able to pose a threat to the German army not long ago, are now surrounded by the Germans. At present, the only troops I have to stop the German attack are the 5th and 16th Armies, which are still being formed. How confident do you think that with such a force, we can stop the German attack?"

Voroshilov knew very well that the troops available to Zhukov were far less than those of the Leningrad Front. He nodded slowly, smiled bitterly and said, "Comrade Zhukov, you are right. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders. Let's talk about General Potapov's Fifth Army. When the war broke out, the army consisted of the 5th and 15th Infantry Armies, the 27th and 9nd Mechanized Armies, the 22nd and 2th Fortified Areas, and the Army's direct artillery and engineering units.

But now, according to the plan of the High Command, the rebuilt 5th Army only has the 32nd and 133rd Infantry Divisions, the 18th, 19th and 20th Tank Brigades, the 36th Motorized Regiment, as well as 4 anti-tank artillery regiments and 5 Guards Mortar Battalions. The total force is less than one-third of the original. It is basically impossible to stop the attack of the German 10th Armored Division and the Imperial Division and defend Mozhaisk. "

"That's right, Comrade Marshal, you are right." Since Voroshilov had said this, Zhukov said truthfully: "I will use the limited forces at hand to find ways to stop the German offensive."

Voroshilov raised his hand and patted Zhukov on the shoulder, saying in a sympathetic tone: "Comrade Zhukov, it is really not easy for you. When I return to Moscow, I will report the actual situation here to Comrade Stalin and suggest that after the troops from the Far East arrive, they should be given priority to replenish your Western Front to strengthen your strength."

"Please tell Comrade Stalin that all commanders and fighters of the Western Front will do their utmost to crush the German attempt to occupy Moscow."

Voroshilov held out his hand to Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, I wish you good luck!"

……

On the evening of October 10, Sokov followed Potapov to Borodino Railway Station to wait for the upcoming Far Eastern troops.

Seeing this simple train station, Sokov couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions in his heart. After the war, he, Yakov and Adelina had been here. Not long after, he followed Adelina to faraway Berlin. Unexpectedly, in just a few months, he went back to the future from the 1940s, and then inexplicably went back to the Great Patriotic War again from the future. When will this damn cycle end?

In the distance, a military column was approaching slowly. Seeing this, Potapov could not help but get excited: "Here they come, here they come. Our troops are finally here."

After the military train came to a stop, the doors of the sealed carriages opened, and countless officers and soldiers in khaki short leather coats jumped out of the carriages and lined up beside the tracks following the commander's orders. In the distance, a group of officers walked quickly towards where Potapov and Sokov were.

A handsome officer in a military coat came up to Potapov, saluted, and reported in accordance with the regulations: "Comrade General, Colonel Polosukhin, commander of the 32nd Far Eastern Red Banner Infantry Division, reports to you that the entire division is fully equipped and fully prepared for battle and can be deployed at any time."

After Porosukhin finished his report, Potapov reached out and shook his hand, saying earnestly: "Colonel Porosukhin, I will hand over the glorious mission of defending Borodino to your division. You must quickly establish a defensive position and prepare for the upcoming German attack."

"Don't worry, Comrade General," Polosukhin assured Potapov, "I will immediately deploy the troops and establish a defensive position on the spot, ready to meet the enemy."

"Comrade Colonel, your troops performed very well in the Battle of Lake Hassan in 1938, and were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the honorary title of the Red Banner Division." Potapov continued, "I hope you will achieve even more brilliant results in the upcoming battles." Sokov, who was standing next to him, raised his eyebrows when he heard Potapov mention the Battle of Lake Hassan. This war was later commonly known as the Battle of Zhanggufeng. It was the first time that the Soviet army fought against the Japanese pirates and won the final victory. Knowing that this unit had fought against the Japanese pirates before, Sokov couldn't help but have a better impression of Polosukhin and his troops.

Potapov pointed at Sokov and said to Polosukhin: "Comrade Colonel, this is my adjutant, Major Sokov. I plan to send him to your troops as a liaison officer to strengthen the connection between you and the army headquarters. Do you have any different opinions?"

Hearing that Potapov was going to send a liaison officer to his troops, Polosukhin's mouth twitched, and he said with some embarrassment: "Comrade General, our division is equipped with sufficient and complete communication equipment, so there is no need to send any liaison officers."

Potapov heard from Porosukhin's words that he had different opinions on his sending of liaison officers, so he laughed and said, "Comrade Colonel, Major Sokov is a very good commander. You will understand this after dealing with him."

After looking Sokov up and down, Porosukhin found that he was too young. He was very reluctant to let such a person serve as a liaison officer in his army. Just as he was thinking about how to reject Potapov's proposal, he heard Potapov continue to say: "Comrade Colonel, guess how long Major Sokov has been in the army?"

Hearing Potapov's question, Polosukhin stared at Sokov and thought. The other party looked about 24 or 5 years old. For an ordinary person of his age, it would be good enough to be a lieutenant, but now he is a major. Could it be that he joined the army when he was a teenager? Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to have such a high military rank.

Thinking of this, Polosukhin said cautiously: "Comrade General, according to my guess, he should have been in the army for seven or eight years, otherwise it would be impossible for him to get such a high rank."

"No." Potapov held up two fingers and said proudly, "To tell you the truth, Major Sokov has only been in the army for two months."

"What, only two months?" Polosuhin was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. "It's incredible that he was promoted to major in such a short time. How did he do it?"

"Major Sokov, show your medal to Comrade Colonel."

Sokov quickly unbuttoned his military coat, revealing the Order of Lenin hanging on his pullover so that Polosukhin could see it clearly.

When Polosukhin saw Sokov's Order of Lenin, he was shocked: "My God, this is the Order of Lenin. Comrade Major, how did you get it?"

Seeing the shocked expression on Polosukhin's face, Potapov smiled triumphantly, and then recounted to him in detail the achievements made by Sokov.

After listening to Potapov's story, Polosukhin's eyes changed when he looked at Sokov. He didn't expect that this young and somewhat unremarkable major in front of him had achieved such amazing results within two months after joining the army.

"Comrade Colonel." Seeing that Polosukhin was stunned by his words, Potapov continued, "I will send Major Sokov to your troops as a liaison officer. You won't object, will you?"

"No, no, of course not." Polosukhin shook his head vigorously, then extended his hand to Sokov and said in a friendly tone: "Major Sokov, on behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the division, I welcome you to serve as a liaison officer in our division."

"Hello, Comrade Commander." Sokov said politely with a smile on his face, "It is my honor to fight alongside you and your heroic troops."

"Comrade Colonel," Potapov asked after Polosukhin and Sokov had exchanged pleasantries, "When did you leave from the Far East?"

"Report to Comrade General," Polosukhin replied, "When the war broke out, our division was stationed in the village of Razdornoye in the Primorsky Krai. It was not until September 1941, 9 that we received an order to leave Razdornoye and go to the Leningrad front. From September 11 to 1941, 9, our division arrived at Murmansk and Volkhov Station, and was incorporated into the 26th Army, participating in the battle against the German invaders."

When Sokov heard this, he was stunned. He had always thought that this unit came directly to the Borodino battlefield after being transferred from the Far East. Unexpectedly, it went to Leningrad first and even fought with the German army before being transferred to this area.

Potapov looked at the group of officers standing behind Polosukhin and said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, you haven't introduced your colleagues to me yet."

After hearing what Potapov said, Polosuhin quickly introduced the officers who came with him to each other. Sokov, who was standing next to him, silently wrote down the names of the division chief of staff, the division political commissar and several regiment commanders to facilitate his future work in the division.

After Polosukhin finished his introduction, Potapov said to him: "Comrade Colonel, the Germans don't have much time left for us. Your division should build a complete defense system with Borodino Heights as the center to stop the German advance. If you have any difficulties, just raise them and I will find a way to solve them for you."

"Comrade General, our division's heavy weapons are still on the way. I'm afraid it will take another day or two to arrive." Polosukhin said to Potapov: "Now we are seriously lacking in various anti-tank weapons. Can you provide us with a batch of anti-tank mines? We can also use the minefield to block the German armored forces?"

"No problem." Potapov said reasonably: "I will notify the engineering corps to send you a batch of anti-tank mines and assist you in setting up the minefield."

At this point, he raised his hand to check the time and said to Polosukhin: "Comrade Colonel, it's getting late. You should start building fortifications. After dawn tomorrow, I will come to check the progress of your defense work."

(End of this chapter)