During the twenty-day battle, the units of the Belorussian Front achieved great results, inflicting heavy blows on the enemy, pushing them back 130 kilometers and liberating large areas of Belarusian territory, including Gomel.

At the summary meeting of the campaign, Malinin proudly said to the heads of the many army groups participating in the meeting: "Comrades commanders, the battle of Gomel-Lechtsa that we conducted has advantageously cooperated with the major offensive operations carried out by the 1st Front of friendly neighbors Ukraine in the Kyiv direction during this period, and the enemy, who is pinned down by the troops of this Front, cannot transfer a division from Belarus to the Kyiv region.

Throughout the campaign, we maintained close ties with the Belarusian partisans, who heroically fulfilled the tasks assigned to us. They blew up bridges in enemy rear, stormed railways, blew up fuel and ammunition depots, gave our air force instructions to strike targets, provided us with the most valuable intelligence about the enemy. ……”

When Malinin stopped, Batov couldn't help but interject and ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, what is our next task?" ”

After glancing at Batov, Malinin continued: "Having completed the basic task of breaking through the enemy's main defensive areas, the troops of the Front began to fight for advantageous areas in order to prepare for a decisive battle for the complete liberation of the entire territory of Belarus.

However, we should also note that after a long period of high-intensity fighting, the troops are too tired, and it is time to consider giving the commanders and fighters a rest. Moreover, there are still difficult battles to be fought ahead, and serious preparations are also required, such as repairing the lines of communication, reducing the time for forward ammunition to a minimum, repairing the damaged river crossings, and so on. ”

After waiting for Malinin's speech, Rokossovsky stood up and said: "Comrades, when the enemy was retreating, in order to delay the advance of our troops, he blew up the railroad tracks, roadbeds, and bridges with explosives. And all this work is not enough to be done by engineering units alone. That's why I like that the commanders of your armies can send out people to support our engineers at the right time. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." As soon as Rokossovsky's words were finished, he replied in a haphazard manner: "We will definitely cooperate with the engineering units with all our might." ”

After the meeting, the commanders of the group army got up and left. Only the commander of the 11th Army, Fedyuninsky, remained. He walked up to Rokossovsky and said to him: "Koschika, can I talk to you?" ”

Rokossovsky understood what Fedyuninsky wanted to talk to him, so he nodded and said: "Yes." He stood up and shook his head at Fedyuninsky, "Let's go out for a walk!" ”

While Rokossovsky and Fedyuninsky were walking on the edge of the forest, several heavily armed guards followed a dozen meters away, vigilantly watching the surroundings to prevent possible enemies.

"Here, smoke a cigarette." Rokossovsky took a cigarette out of his pocket, handed one to Fedyuninsky, lit it for him, and said: "Fedyuningsky, if you have anything in your heart, just say it?" ”

Fedyuninsky took two puffs, threw the cigarette on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and said angrily: "Koschika, let me tell you the truth, I want to stay in the Belarusian Front, even if I am only a commander, I want to stay." ”

Rokossovsky waited for Fedyuninsky to finish, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, and said to him: "Fedyuninsky, you should know that due to the fact that the 3rd, 63rd and 11th armies went out to the Dnieper, the offensive front of the right flank of our front was significantly shortened. In view of this, the base camp decided to include the 11th Army in its own reserves. ”

Fedyuninsky looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Is it for this reason that you recommended to Comrade Stalin that I go to Leningrad to command a front?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Fedyuninsky, I think so, instead of letting you stay in the base camp reserve and do nothing, it is better to go to the battlefield where you can build meritorious deeds." Rokossovsky said with a smile: "If I am not mistaken, you once served for some time as the commander of the Leningrad Front. It was with this in mind that when Comrade Stalin called me and asked me if I had in mind a good candidate for the commander of an army group that could be sent to Leningrad to command an army group, I did not hesitate to say your name. ”

"Is it really irreparable?" Fedyuninsky once again emphasized: "I have just said that as long as I can stay in the Belarusian Front, even if I am a commander, I am willing." ”

"Comrade Fedyuninsky, I advise you to go to Leningrad." Seeing that Fedyuninsky was a little unable to turn around, Rokossovsky hurriedly persuaded: "Long before the war, we were old friends. On the eve of the outbreak of war, we also planned to disobey the orders of our superiors and secretly prepare for war against a possible German attack. ”

Listening to Rokossovsky talk about the plot between the two in Zhytomyr, Fedyuninsky talked and said: "Koschika, I have been thinking for the past few years, why do you know that the Germans are going to wage war against us, and you have so accurately grasped the timing of the exercises, and your troops have not gone far from the border of the Germans, and your troops are pulling towards the border. I sometimes even suspect that you were right next to you while the Germans were making battle plans. ”

Rokossovsky heard Fedyuninsky say this, an embarrassed expression appeared on his face, he quickly coughed, changed the topic and said: "Comrade Fedyuningsky, in my mind, you are an indisputably talented commander, an outstanding organizer, and an expert who is good at leading troops. I recommend you to a responsible and very important position on the battlefield, and I am convinced that you are the right person. I believe that your performance in the future will not disappoint me. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky gave himself such a high evaluation, Fedyuninsky knew that it was pointless for him to be stubborn, and Stalin also spoke, ordering him to rush to Moscow as soon as possible to accept the appointment. After making his final decision, he straightened his back and looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade commander, when can I go to Moscow?" ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said to him: "There is a plane carrying seriously wounded people, which will fly to Moscow at three o'clock in the afternoon, so you can take this plane to Moscow to report." ”