Since the Germans had long since concentrated a large number of forces on the southern flank of the Soviet-German front, they took advantage of the defeat of the Soviet army in the spring campaign near Crimea and Kharkov and turned to the offensive in the direction of Voronezh on June 28, carrying out a surprise attack on the junction of the Bryansk Front and the Southwestern Front. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Seeing that the situation was critical, Rokossovsky, having taken over the post of commander of the Bryansk Front, hurried back to the headquarters of the Front to take up his post, where he joined the arriving Malinin.

When Rokossovsky took office, he learned that the Bryansk Front consisted of the 3rd Army of General Korzun, the 48th Army of Khalyuzin, the 13th Army of Pukhov, the 38th Army of Chibisov, the 5th Tank Army of Lidyukov, as well as the 1st and 16th Tank Corps plus a cavalry corps.

Since the main forces of the German army were advancing in the direction of the Don, the higher authorities ordered the 5th Tank Army to immediately cut off the lines of communication of the enemy group advancing towards the Don and attack them from the rear to prevent it from occupying Voronezh.

Just when General Lidyukov was directing the troops to carry out this difficult task, something unexpected happened: "The commander of the 2nd Shock Army, Lieutenant General Vlasov, shortly after being captured, actually surrendered to the Germans. ”

This news aroused Stalin's anger, knowing that Vlasov was his confidant and favorite general, and he entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, he did not expect that he would actually surrender to the Germans, which was really unbearable, so he carried out an operation in the army to check out the "Vlasov elements". And Lidyukov became an important object of suspicion because he served as the deputy commander of the 20th Army and was Vlasov's deputy during the defense of Moscow.

Rokossovsky, who was arranging a combat mission in the command headquarters, suddenly received a call from Beria from Moscow. Beria asked straight to the point on the phone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, where is Lidyukov?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Beria." Although Rokossovsky was extremely disgusted with these people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he still maintained basic politeness on the surface: "General Lidyukov commanded the tank army to cut off the lines of communication of the German army group rushing to the Don River. Do you have any instructions? ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Beria said dryly, "I have received the authorization of the Supreme Commander himself to immediately dismiss Lidyukov from his post and cooperate with the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent by me to arrest him." ”

Beria's words scared Rokossovsky, and he thought to himself that the war was not over yet, so why did he start a new round of purges? He cautiously asked: "Comrade Beria, can I know the reason?" ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Rokossovsky, but your duty is to remove Lidyukov from his post and cooperate with my subordinates in arresting him." Beria said with some arrogance: "As for the specific reason, you don't have to ask." ”

Rokossovsky had no choice but to contact Lidyukov, who was commanding the troops, through the radio: "Hey, Comrade Lidyukov, where are you?" ”

"Comrade Commander, I was on a reconnaissance mission north of Yerets with two tanks, and we discovered a transport route for the German army." Lyudyukov never dreamed that Rokossovsky contacted him in order to announce to him his dismissal, and happily reported: "If confirmed, I intend to lead tank units in this area to attack German transport convoys." ”

"Comrade Lidyukov," Rokossovsky said with difficulty, "I now announce that reconnaissance is canceled. You immediately return to the tank army headquarters, hand over your duties to the chief of staff, and then report to the front headquarters. ”

"What, let me hand over my duties?" After hearing this, Lidyukov couldn't help but be dumbfounded, and it took a long time before he asked: "Comrade commander of the front, what the hell is going on?" ”

"Vlasov surrendered to the Germans and became a shameful traitor." Rokossovsky briefly explained to him: "The higher authorities are purging the army of 'Vlasovite', so you have to come back and be investigated." ”

"Vlasov became a traitor, what does it have to do with me?" Lidyukov asked puzzled.

"Because when you were the deputy commander of the 20th Army, you worked with him for a while." Rokossovsky continued: "The superiors need to review you for this matter, and I hope you will actively cooperate. ”

When Lidyukov heard this, he immediately became angry: "Vlasov is Vlasov, I am me." What does it have to do with me that he defected to the enemy, and why should I be censored? ”

"Comrade Lidyukov," Rokossovsky said euphemistically, "I knew you before the war, knew you well, knew that you were definitely not that kind of person. However, Beria personally explained this matter, and I have no power to change anything, so I can only help you to intercede with Comrade Stalin when the time is right. ”

"I see." After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Lidyukov spoke for a long time: "I know what I have to do. Contacts with Rokossovsky were then severed.

Rokossovsky heard that there was no sound in the headphones, and thought that there was a problem with the line, so he hurriedly asked the communications corps to deal with it. After checking it, the signal soldier told him that there was no problem with the line, and that the other party had taken the initiative to cut off contact.

In the next few hours, no matter how much the communications soldiers tried to contact each other, they could not be contacted. The officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who had come to carry out the arrest mission, saw that Lidyukov had lost contact and immediately reported to Beria in Moscow by high-frequency telephone.

After ten minutes, Stalin personally called, and he angrily asked: "Rokossovsky, you explain to me what happened to Lidyukov and why he suddenly lost contact?" Did he find out his identity as scum and run to surrender to the Germans? ”

"No, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky thought that during the Great Patriotic War, there were only a few generals who defected to the enemy, and there seemed to be no General Lidyukov among them, so he assured Lidyukov: "I assure you that he will never surrender to the Germans, maybe there is a problem with the communication system, so he cannot be contacted for the time being." ”

After listening to this, Stalin was silent for a long time, and finally said in a dissatisfied tone: "Well, Rokossovsky, since you vouch for Lidyukov, then I will give you another night, and if you can't find him before dawn tomorrow, then you don't have to be the commander of this front anymore." ”

Seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone, the chief of staff of the Front, Kazakov, who had the same name as the artillery commander, nervously asked: "Comrade commander, what should we do now?" ”

Rokossovsky frowned and thought for a while, feeling that no matter what, Lidyukov did not look like the kind of person who would defect to the enemy, so he decisively ordered Kazakov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately call the Chief of Staff of the Tank Army and ask them to send men to search in the direction of General Lidyukov's patrol." If I can't find his whereabouts before dawn tomorrow, then he will let me go down there as a tank soldier. ”