The 78th Infantry Division, which had entered the battle in time, under the command of the division commander Beloborodov, routed the enemy rushing to the Volokolamsk-Highway and successfully saved the dangerous situation in the defense zone of the 16th Army. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

When he heard the news, Rokossovsky's mood was not lightened, and although the situation on the left flank of Army Group had improved, there was another disturbing danger on the right flank. The Germans strengthened their fortifications in the direction of Kalinin to the north, advancing at a rate of two to three kilometers per day to the north bank of the Volga reservoir, having captured the railway bridge and entered the Moscow-Leningrad road.

Rokossovsky called several of the main commanders of the army group to him and said to him in a serious tone: "Comrade commanders, the threat from the north has increased at present, and the German offensive on the left flank of our army group has not weakened in the slightest. ”

After his words, the first to speak was the Chief of Staff Malinin: "Comrade commander, I feel that we are taking new measures to improve the situation facing our troops and stop the advance of the German troops. ”

"Tell me more about it." Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish, and then said in a dissatisfied tone: "I need you, the chief of staff, to provide me with practical solutions, not this kind of scene that does not solve any problems." ”

Although Malinin was rebuked by Rokossovsky, he was an excellent chief of staff after all, and after a slight flush, he pointed to the map and said to the people gathered around: "Commanders and comrades, please see, at present the battle between the center and the left flank of our army group is unfolding 10 to 12 kilometers west of the Istrian reservoir. In my opinion, the reservoirs, the Istrian River, and the adjoining area are the best defensive areas at the moment, and we can organize a strong defence with a small number of troops after we have occupied this area. In this way, we will be able to put some troops in the second echelon and build a defense in depth. ”

Rokossovsky did not rush to express his opinion on the plan proposed by Malinin, but looked around a week and asked: "I wonder if everyone has a different opinion?" ”

"Comrade Commander, I have a question." The first to speak was the head of the artillery Kazakov, who had no scruples in saying what was in his heart: "It may be a good option to build a new defense of the Istrian reservoir, but will the commander of the front agree to our retreat?" ”

As soon as Kazakov's words came out, everyone turned their eyes to Rokossovsky, wanting to hear how he answered this question. Rokossovsky, who has the memory of later generations, could not help but show a bitter smile on his face at this moment, because in real history, Zhukov did not hesitate to veto this proposal he made. However, seeing that everyone was looking at him expectantly, he couldn't bear to pour cold water on everyone, so he could only bite the bullet and say: "I will personally go to negotiate with General Zhukov, hoping that he will agree to our plan." ”

Early the next morning, Rokossovsky drove to the location of the headquarters of the Front.

He walked briskly into Zhukov's room, sat down opposite Zhukov, and called his real and patronymic names in an anxious tone: "Georgy Konstantinovich, I ask you to allow my troops to retreat to the Istrian region. ”

Seeing that Zhukov was just staring at him, but did not say a word, Rokossovsky, who was a little weak in his heart, quickly got up from his seat, propped his hands on the edge of the desk, leaned forward slightly, and said in a pleading tone: "The troops only need to retreat ten kilometers, the reservoir itself, the Istria River itself is a good defensive area, and after my troops are stationed in this area, they can quickly organize a strong defensive position." ”

In response to Rokossovsky's request, Zhukov did not speak, but thought hard with a frown. Seeing that Zhukov still did not express his position, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be a little anxious: "Comrade General, you must know that the troops and equipment of our group army have suffered great losses. After a long battle, the fighters had become exhausted. ”

"Georgie," Rokossovsky called out his nickname when he saw that Zhukov was still silent. This time he finally succeeded in attracting Zhukov's attention, and he looked up at Rokossovsky, who was standing in front of him, still without saying a word and without expressing any opinion.

Although he knew that Zhukov had little chance of agreeing to his retreat, Rokossovsky still said with a fluke mentality: "Please allow us to retreat to the Istrian region!" ”

When Zhukov had finished speaking, he also stood up, propped his hands on the table, leaned forward, and almost touched Rokossovsky's head. He stared at each other and said word by word, "You know what? To retreat is to run away, Comrade Rokossovsky! Speaking of this, he couldn't help but raise his voice, "No, resolutely no!" You can't take a step back. Hold on, you know? You must stick to it, and you must not take a step back. To accentuate his tone, he slapped him the table.

Seeing that the conversation with Zhukov had collapsed, Rokossovsky quickly stood up, took a step back, straightened his body, and asked with a wave of anger: "Can I go?" ”

Zhukov sighed softly, waved his hand at Rokossovsky, and said: "You go." ”

Hearing his command, Rokossovsky neither spoke nor saluted him, but made a clean turn, strode out of Zhukov's office, and slammed the door against him.

Seeing his old comrade-in-arms Rokossovsky angrily leaving, Zhukov sighed again, sat down in his seat, held his head with both hands, and pondered bitterly: "Is it right or wrong for me to refuse to let Rokossovsky's troops retreat?" ”

Before he could come up with an answer, the high-frequency phone on the desk rang. He put the microphone to his ear, heard Stalin's voice coming from inside, quickly stood up, and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Stalin!" ”

Stalin did not greet Zhukov, but asked straight to the point: "Are you sure that we can keep Moscow?" It is with a heavy heart that I have come to ask you this question, and as a party member, I hope you can tell me what is in your heart. ”

Stalin's question silenced Zhukov for a long time, and then he replied slowly: "I think we can keep Moscow, but in order to achieve this goal, we need to replenish at least two armies and no less than two hundred tanks." ”

Hearing Zhukov's answer, Stalin's heart was much more steady, and he was also very generous to Zhukov's conditions: "It's good that you have such confidence again." You call the General Staff and talk to them about the assembly of the two armies you need, and they will have it ready for you by the end of November. But tanks," said Stalin, pausing for a moment, and continuing with some embarrassment, "not yet." ”

Zhukov was a little disappointed when he heard that he could get two army groups, but the tanks he needed were not, but he said to Stalin in a calm tone: "I understand. I beg you to concentrate two army groups on both flanks of our line of defense. Goodbye, Comrade Stalin. ”

…………

After returning to his army group headquarters, Rokossovsky said angrily to his group of subordinates: "Comrade commander, the commander of the front army did not pay any attention to my request. But I think that the withdrawal of troops to the Istrian region is very necessary. As a commander and a member of the Party, I felt that I could not obey this erroneous order of the commander of the Front, lest we put our troops in a desperate situation. ”

"So what are we going to do?" Lobachev asked with a sad face after listening to Rokossovsky's complaints.

"I'm going to report this to my superiors." After Rokossovsky finished saying this, he pointed his hand at Malinin, who was sitting at the table, and decisively ordered: "Chief of Staff, please record my message to the General Staff: Marshal Shaposhnikov receives, in view of the difficult situation that our army group is currently facing, I request ......"

Half an hour later, Shaposhnikov, who had just returned to the General Staff from Kuibyshev, received a telegram from Rokossovsky, and after reading it carefully, he hurried to Stalin's office and said to Stalin in a respectful manner: "Comrade Stalin, I have just received a telegram from Rokossovsky, in which he asks for our permission to lead his troops back to the Istrian region, so that he can re-establish a new and strong defense under the cover of the Istrian reservoirs. ”

Stalin took the telegram from Shaposhnikov's hand, and after a quick glance at it, did not speak, but looked up at Shaposhnikov to see if he had anything else to add.

Shaposhnikov had been dealing with Stalin for a long time, and naturally understood the meaning of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself, and hurriedly added: "Although this area is only ten kilometers away from Moscow, it is very suitable for the 16th Army to use it as a defensive position." ”

After listening to Shaposhnikov's account, Stalin casually handed the telegram back to the other party, and at the same time said: "Since you think this is the right thing to do, then approve Rokossovsky's request and hurry up and give him orders." ”

…………

Rokossovsky, who was sleeping on the table, was suddenly surprised by Lobachev's cry. He looked up and looked at the other with a blank expression, wondering what had made his military commissar so happy.

Lobachev said excitedly to Rokossovsky with a telegram in his hand: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff has agreed to your request to allow our army group to retreat to the Istrian region to create a new defense. ”

After reading the contents of the telegram at a glance, Rokossovsky also excitedly said to Lobachev: "I know Boris Mikhailovich, he is a very cautious man, and he gives us this reply, I believe, with the consent of the Supreme Commander himself. ”

After calling Malinin over, he ordered: "Chief of Staff, immediately give orders to all units to withdraw to the Istrian reservoir after dark to build new defensive positions. ”

At the same time that Rokossovsky gave the order to retreat to the units belonging to the army group, Zhukov also received a telegram from the General Staff. When he saw what was written on it, he was furious, and he hurried to the communication room in the basement and walked to a walkie-talkie.

When the operator saw that the commander suddenly appeared beside him, he quickly stood up and prepared to salute him. But Zhukov waved his hand at him first and ordered: "Sit down!" ”

After the operator had finished speaking, Zhukov began to dictate the contents of the telegram: "Send a message to Rokossovsky, commander of the 16th Army: I am the one who commands the troops of the Front, and immediately revoke the order for the troops to withdraw to the Istrian reservoir, and I order you to remain in the positions you occupied and not to retreat a single step." General Zhukov. ”

Zhukov's order to stop retreating arrived in Rokossovsky's hands a few minutes later, and after reading the content of the message, he sighed, then turned his head and asked Malinin: "Have all the orders to retreat been given?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Ma Lining nodded and asked with a look of embarrassment, "What should we do now?" ”

Rokossovsky walked back and forth in the house with his hands behind his back for a while, then stopped and ordered Malinin: "Chief of staff, an order is an order, we can only carry it out, you immediately notify the troops, the order to retreat is canceled." The troops that did not retreat continued to remain in their original positions; And the troops that had already begun to retreat immediately stopped their retreat and returned to their original positions. ”

"Won't that cause confusion?" In response to Rokossovsky's order, Malinin asked worriedly: "Besides, some units have turned off their communication equipment during the transfer, and we cannot contact them for the time being. ”

"If you contact a lot of troops by phone or telegram, you will immediately send a communications unit." Rokossovsky turned his head and called the communications chief Maksimenko over and instructed him: "Send all the communications soldiers out, and be sure to convey the latest orders to the sister in the shortest possible time." Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." The elderly Colonel Maksimenko agreed, then turned and trotted out of the headquarters to gather his men to deliver messages to the units that could not be contacted.

Looking at Maksimenko's back, Lobachev asked with some concern: "Comrade commander, is it a little too late to go and deliver orders now?" ”

"Leave it to fate." Rokossovsky said helplessly: "We can only gamble now." (To be continued.) )