Rokossovsky returned to the Belorussian Front, and the command was not notified in any way. But Terekin, Malinin and others were so shocked that their jaws almost fell directly to the ground when they saw Rokossovsky appear in the command headquarters.

Terekin hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands with Rokossovsky, and at the same time asked in surprise: "Comrade commander, why do you have time to come to us today?" ”

Rokossovsky smiled wryly and replied: "By order of the Supreme High Command, from now on I continue to be the commander of the Belorussian Front." ”

"What, you're back as commander of the Front?" Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Malinin immediately rushed over and said with a look of surprise: "This is really good. As he said this, the corner of his eye glanced at where Zakharkin was.

After Rokossovsky, Malinin, and Terekin had finished greeting them, Zakharkin stepped forward, raised his hand and saluted, and said: "Comrade commander, I am Zakharkin, your new deputy. ”

"It turned out to be Comrade Deputy Commander." Rokossovsky had learned about the deputy commander acting for himself through a unique channel, and although he did not agree with many of his practices, he should still be competent as his deputy, so he took the initiative to reach out to the other party and said with a smile: "Hello, General Zakharkin, it's a pleasure to meet you." ”

After meeting with the heads of the Front in the command, Rokossovsky began to officially fulfill his duties as commander. "Comrade Chief of Staff," he asked Ma Lining with a frown, "Why did I find that our commanders and fighters were in a somewhat depressed mood on the way back from the airport?" ”

"Comrade commander, you should be well aware of the reasons." Malinin said somewhat helplessly: "Since General Batov's 65th Army suffered heavy losses and had to retreat to Lechicha, the morale of our army has been a little low. ”

"Why is there a low morale?" Rokossovsky turned his head to look at Terekin and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are engaged in political and ideological work, and how to improve the morale of our army is your business. ”

"That is what I said, Comrade Commander." Terekin said with a bitter face: "But this defeat has greatly damaged our vitality, and judging from the current situation, it is very difficult to get replenishment of soldiers and weapons and ammunition from the base camp. Because of all these things, it is inevitable that the morale of the troops will be low. ”

"Yes, we did lose the battle." Rokossovsky felt that if he did not recover his morale as soon as possible, it would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the battle, so he said with a serious expression: "However, there are also several units that have performed very well in resisting the German offensive, and I think they should be commended and rewarded." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Terekin and Malinin glanced at each other and asked with some surprise: "Comrade commander, is this appropriate?" You know, we've just lost a big battle. ”

"There is nothing inappropriate," Rokossovsky said, looking at Terekin, "our defeat is one thing, and our outstanding performance in battle is another, and the two cannot be confused." Comrade Military Commissar, you should arrange a ceremony for commendation and awarding of honors as soon as possible. It is hoped that in this way, the morale of our army can be quickly restored. ”

…………

Rajetsky, the military commissar of the 65th Army, when he received a call from Terekin, his first feeling was that he had misheard, and he hurriedly asked: "General Terekin, I didn't hear what you just said, can you please repeat it again?" ”

Rajetsky's reaction had long been expected by Terekin, so he slowed down and said: "General Rajetsky, I now officially inform you that you will immediately begin to prepare for the commendation and award ceremony, and please report to me as soon as possible the list of commanders and fighters who have distinguished themselves in the fighting in the Kalinkovich area." ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, what the hell is going on?" Although Rajetsky clearly heard every word Terekin said this time, he still asked in puzzlement: "Our group army has just lost the battle, how can we hold any celebration meeting and hold a commendation and medal ceremony?" ”

"Comrade Commander said," said Rokossovsky, who was working with Malinin on the plan, "and the great defeat is one thing, and receiving awards for meritorious service is another, and the two cannot be confused. We can't let those commanders and fighters who have made meritorious deeds be wronged just because we have lost the battle, understand? ”

Hearing Terekin say that it was the commander who said this, Rajetsky couldn't help but show a surprised expression on his face, according to what he knew about Zakharkin during this time, he didn't think that the other party could say such warm words, so he asked carefully: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know which commander?" ”

"Which other commander could it be?" Hearing Rajetsky's question, Terekin said with some pride: "General Rokossovsky, of course, he is back!" ”

"General Rokossovsky is back as our commander again?! Great, that's great, all of us have been looking forward to his return for a long time. ”

Rajetsky's voice was loud, alarming Batov and Glebov, who were next to him. The two were talking about how to adjust the deployment of troops, when Rajetsky's voice was suddenly interrupted, and Batov was about to get angry, but vaguely heard Rokossovsky's name, so he frowned and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, what makes you so excited?" ”

Rajetsky, who hung up the phone, walked up to Batov and said with emotion: "Comrade commander, just now General Terekin, military commissar of the Front, called and said that we have been ordered by Commander Rokossovsky to hold a celebration party as soon as possible to commend those commanders and fighters who showed bravery and tenacity in the battles in the Kalinkovich area and award them with honors. ”

Upon learning that Rokossovsky had returned to the Belorussian Front, both Batov and Glebov had a relaxed expression on their faces. Batov said with emotion: "So, Comrade Commander has returned to the Front? ”

Seeing Rajetsky nodding in affirmative, he continued: "If Comrade Commander had not left, perhaps we would not have suffered such a heavy defeat in the Kalinkovich region." ”

"But, Comrade Commander," Glebov, who was next to him, asked with a puzzled look on his face as soon as Batov finished speaking, "why did you hold any commendation meeting?" Do you know that we are fighting a losing battle, not a winning one? ”

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army did this, perhaps to boost morale. Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you notice that since we retreated to Lechicha, the troops have been in a state of low morale? ”

Glebov thought about it carefully, and the situation seemed to be really as Batov said, the commanders and fighters did not seem to have any spirit since they retreated to the Lechica area, and it seemed that they had not yet come out of the shadow of the defeat in the Kalinkovich area. And the proposal proposed by Rokossovsky may be the best way to solve the problem of morale.

"Comrade commander," Rajetsky asked Batov for instructions, "what do you think we should report the names of commanders and fighters, and where will this celebration be held?" ”

Batov thought for a moment and replied: "When fighting in the Kalinkovich area, the 4th Guards Division and the 40th Infantry Division were the main attackers, and when the Germans broke through the right flank of our army, it was they who resisted the German attack from both sides and successfully highlighted the German encirclement. If we want to commend and award medals, I think the commanders and fighters of these two divisions should be the mainstay. ”

After recording what Batov said, Rajetsky continued to ask: "Is there anything else?" ”

Batov stood up and walked a few steps back and forth in the room, then stopped and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you should remember that in addition to the above two divisions, the rest of the infantry divisions, tank brigades, artillery regiments, and units directly under the group army must report to the commanders and fighters who have performed outstanding in this battle. ”

"At the celebration meeting, in addition to the awarding personnel, who else needs to participate." Rajetsky asked: "Comrade commander, please arrange it first. ”

"One of the military and political commanders of each division, brigade and regiment must participate, and the commander of the battalion must decide who will participate," Batov said. After speaking, he waved his hand at Rajetsky, "Comrade Military Commissar, you should immediately arrange for the execution of this matter." Now that Commander Rokossovsky is back, I feel that there must be a big battle to be fought next, so boosting morale is the top priority at the moment. ”

After Rajetsky's order was sent to all divisions in the form of a telegram, the division commanders immediately exploded, and everyone was very puzzled, knowing that we had lost the battle, but we were asked to report the list of commanders and fighters who had made meritorious contributions in the battle. After taking the wrong telegram and translating the wrong message, everyone called Rajetsky or Batov one after another to ask what was going on with this order?

Neither Batov nor Rajetsky gave everyone a detailed explanation, but only said briefly: "General Rokossovsky has returned to the Belarusian Front and continues to serve as the commander of our Front." ”

Upon learning that Rokossovsky had returned to the Belorussian Front, all doubts disappeared, and the division commanders immediately personally called the regimental and battalion commanders and ordered them to report as soon as possible the names of those commanders and fighters who had shown great courage and tenacity during the battles in the Kalinkovich region. And clearly told them that the higher authorities were ready to commend these outstanding commanders and fighters and award them medals.

After the order was communicated to each of the fighters, the atmosphere of the entire army group changed. There were no anxious and complaining voices, and the commanders and fighters began to actively prepare for war again, and an invisible and powerful force reunited the morale of the army.