After announcing the appointment and dismissal of the commander of the Front, Zhukov looked at Rokossovsky and said: "Since you are already the commander of the Front, then please give your first order!" ”

Rokossovsky knew very well in his heart that from the moment Zhukov announced his appointment, he himself would be responsible for the troops of the Front, and since the troops launched an offensive for three consecutive days, they did not break through any of the German defenses, nor did they achieve the slightest result, then this style of play proved to be wrong, so what should be done at present is to suspend the offensive, adjust the troops, and reorganize a new offensive. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Thinking of this, he immediately picked up the phone and called the division commander who had just been scolded. The division commander was angry, and when he heard an unfamiliar voice finishing, he couldn't help but raise his voice and asked viciously, "Who?" ”

Rokossovsky did not care about his attitude, but decisively identified himself: "I am the new commander of the Front, Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, and I now inform you that the original order given by General Goldov is null and void, and your department immediately stops the offensive and goes on the defensive on the spot, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." The division commander, who was originally anxious because of the lack of troops, heard Rokossovsky's order, and hurriedly replied: "I immediately order the troops to move to the defense on the spot. ”

When the three of them returned to the headquarters of the Front, a staff officer immediately stepped forward to report the situation to Goldov, but he raised his hand to stop: "I am no longer the commander of the Front, if you have anything, report it to the new commander, General Rokossovsky!" ”

Hearing this, the staff officer hurriedly walked in front of Rokossovsky, raised his hand and saluted, and reported: "Comrade commander, I have just received a call from the airport saying that Comrade Zhertov, the new military commissar and military commissar of the front, has arrived and is heading towards our headquarters, and it will be here in about ten minutes. ”

"I see." Rokossovsky nodded and instructed the staff officer: "I will leave this matter to you, you can take a few people and take them outside to meet the military commissar!" ”

After Rokossovsky was busy with all this, he turned around and saw Zhukov on the phone, and from his name, it was inferred that the person who was talking to him was Vasilevsky, who was in the South-Eastern Front, and only heard Zhukov ask: "...... Hell, how did you get to the east bank of the Volga? Didn't the command of the Front stay in Stalingrad because it was with the troops? ……”

Rokossovsky was also shocked to hear that Yeremenko and Khrushchev had actually set up their headquarters on the east bank of the Volga River, and he thought that in order to stabilize the morale of the army and improve morale, the headquarters of the Southeastern Front should be located in the city of Stalingrad. Now it was good, the troops were engaged in a hard-fought battle with the invading enemy inside and outside the city, while the headquarters was separated from the troops by the wide Volga River.

After Zhukov finished the call, he asked Rokossovsky: "When will you be able to attack the German defenses again?" ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Deputy Commander-in-Chief, you give me two days to get acquainted with the commanders at all levels below, as well as to reintegrate the troops. ”

In response to Rokossovsky's answer, Zhukov nodded and advised: "At present, the situation in Stalingrad is very bad, the German army has rushed into the city from the northwest, and the troops in the north are fighting with Chuikov's 62nd Army for the Mamayev Heights. Mamayev Hill was the commanding height of the city, and if it was lost, the enemy could take control of the port from there, cutting off all communication between the city and the east coast. Your responsibility is not light. ”

After speaking, he stretched out his hand to Rokossovsky and said with a big grin: "Well, Comrade Rokossovsky, since you have taken into account everything that should be considered, then I am also considered to be done, and I am ready to return to Moscow immediately." ”

"In such a hurry?" Hearing that Zhukov was leaving, Rokossovsky's eyes widened in surprise, "You just flew from Moscow in the morning. ”

"Whether I want to return to Moscow as soon as possible, even Vasilevsky, who is in the South-Eastern Front, must return to Moscow as soon as possible." When Zhukov said this, he deliberately lowered his voice, "We are going to work out a plan to crush the German siege of Stalingrad." If you have any requests, please make them as soon as possible before I leave, and I will do my best to help you deal with it satisfactorily. ”

Rokossovsky turned his head to look at Goldov, who was sitting in the corner with his head down, and pleaded with Zhukov: "Comrade Deputy Commander-in-Chief, I want General Goldov to be my deputy commander to help me get acquainted with the commanders and fighters at all levels as soon as possible. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's intercession for himself, Goldov's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't believe his ears when he looked at Rokossovsky, who was talking to Zhukov. He thought to himself, if it were him, he probably wouldn't say good things about his demoted ex, right?

Zhukov walked up to Gordorff and said to him solemnly: "Comrade Gordov, after my consideration, I think you should postpone your post to the 33rd Army, or stay in the headquarters first, serve as Rokossovsky's deputy, and assist him in getting acquainted with and controlling the troops as soon as possible." Do you understand? ”

Hearing Zhukov's question, Goldov realized that the words he had just heard were not his own auditory hallucinations, but real things, and he said again and again: "Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander-in-Chief, I will try my best to cooperate with the new commander." ”

After Zhukov left, Goldov, who was standing next to Rokossovsky, whispered: "Thank you, thank you for saying kind things for me in front of the deputy commander-in-chief." ”

Rokossovsky waved his hand at Goldov and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if we cannot complete the tasks assigned to us by the base camp, then no one will end much better. Now, could you please give me a brief introduction to the troops? ”

Goldov nodded, then walked to the map hanging on the wall, picked up an interpretive stick, and began to speak: "Within the formation of our front are: the 63rd Army under the command of General Kuznetsov, which occupies an area 200 kilometers long on the left bank of the Don River and controls a small landing ground in the Mamun area on the south bank of the Don River;

The 21st Army, commanded by General Danilov, was stationed in a 150-kilometer stretch on the north bank of the Don River, with a small landing field in the areas of Yeranskaya, Dosty-Khobeerskaya, and Serafimovich on the south bank;

The 4th Tank Army, commanded by General Krychokin, occupied a 30-kilometer stretch of land on the north bank of the Don River and between the Volga and Don rivers;

the 24th Army, commanded by General Galanin, guarding a 50-kilometre-long stretch between the two rivers;

The 66th Army, commanded by General Malinovsky, occupied a 20-kilometer stretch between the two rivers, with its left flank backed by the Volga.

In this way, our two armies occupied defensive positions on a broad front along the river, and three armies were actively operating in the middle of the two rivers, threatening the fascist German army group advancing to the Volga. ”

After listening to Gordorf's explanation, Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction, and said in his heart that this deputy commander still remembers the deployment of our army quite well, and it seems that he still has a certain ability. Although he commanded the troops to launch an offensive against the Germans for several days, without making the slightest progress, it is estimated that it was personal bad luck and had nothing to do with his ability.

At this time, the new military commissar of the Front, Zhertov, walked in, who, apparently, learned about Gordov's dismissal from his post from the staff officer who picked him up, so he walked directly in front of Rokossovsky, stretched out his hand to him, and said in a friendly voice: "Hello, Comrade Rokossovsky, from today onwards, the two of us will be partners. I hope that in the years to come, we can cooperate happily! ”

"I believe that your wish will be granted." Rokossovsky politely said: "Welcome to the Stalingrad Front, Comrade Military Commissar!" ”

"Comrade Commander, how is the situation here?" When Zhertov shook hands with Rokossovsky, he politely asked: "Can you give me a brief introduction?" ”

But Rokossovsky explained what he knew to Zheltov. The latter nodded and said, "I understand, Comrade Commander." Since the recent war situation has been unfavorable to our army, and the thinking of the commanders and fighters has fluctuated to some extent, I would like to organize political workers at all levels to go to the troops as soon as possible and talk with the soldiers so that they can understand the significance of defending Stalingrad and our confidence in holding the city. ”

In response to Zheltov's remarks, Rokossovsky could not help but wonder in his heart, saying in his heart that this military commissar was a political worker. However, in the current situation, it is undoubtedly correct to choose such an entry point, so he nodded approvingly and said encouragingly: "Comrade Military Commissar, you have thought it through, then this matter will be left to you with full responsibility." ”

After greeting Gordorff and Zheltov, he asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, when should we relaunch the offensive against the Germans?" ”

When Zheltov heard this, he immediately became interested: "What, comrade commander, are we going to launch an offensive against the Germans?" ”

"Yes, the task of our front is to launch an offensive from the north against the enemy, who is attacking Stalingrad." Pointing to the map hanging on the wall, Rokossovsky introduced Zheltov: "Come and see, Comrade Military Commissar, the enemy has opened a corridor here, through which they will be able to unscrupulously deliver troops and all kinds of military supplies to the enemy who is attacking Stalingrad. Our task is to find ways to cut off this corridor of the enemy and cut off the logistical supply of their front-line troops, so as to reduce the pressure on the defenders of the city. ”

"But before I left Moscow, I heard that the troops were constantly attacking the Germans?" Zhertov asked with some confusion: "When did it stop?" ”

"Just stopped a few hours ago." Rokossovsky replied: "The Germans have mastered the offensive characteristics of our army and worked out the corresponding defensive measures, so that our army, having paid a huge price, did not make any progress." We need to readjust our tactics before attacking the enemy. ”

In response to Rokossovsky's statement, Goldov's face showed a questioning expression: "Comrade commander, with all due respect, you say that the offensive of our army is related to the fact that the Germans have mastered the characteristics of our offensive and worked out corresponding defensive measures. I don't think that's right. ”

When Rokossovsky heard Gordorff say this, he raised his eyebrows and asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, then tell me what is the reason for the failure of our offensive?" ”

"The reason for the failure of the offensive was the lack of artillery, mortars and ammunition for the attacking units of our army. Of course, the most important thing is that the campaign was poorly organized, because the situation was urgent, the troops launched the offensive in a hurry, and did not have time to organize a coordinated participation in the battle, and without making full preparations, they threw themselves into the battle one after another. ”

After Goldov finished speaking, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I admit that there is some truth in your conclusion, but from the situation of today's battle, you have not seen the problems of our army? Let our commanders and fighters attack the well-defended frontal positions under the blockade of the enemy's crossfire, and no matter how heroic our soldiers are, their flesh and blood will not be able to stop the enemy's bullets and shrapnel! ”

Goldov lowered his head and thought about it, what Rokossovsky said seemed to have some truth, then nodded, and asked humbly for the first time: "Comrade commander, then tell me, how should we break through the defensive positions of the German army?" ”

Rokossovsky pointed to the map and said to him: "If we want to seize the enemy's defensive positions, we should first concentrate our forces and seize the high ground on both sides controlled by the German army, so as to avoid the frontal assault troops being killed by crossfire from the high ground on both sides after rushing up the slope, so that our grasp of seizing the frontal position can be greatly improved......"

Rokossovsky's words made Gordorf's mouth pause, and he suddenly realized that the tactics he had used before were all wrong, thinking that as long as he gave stern orders to the commanders below and the soldiers showed bravery, they would definitely be able to seize the enemy's position. At this moment, it seems that he is wrong, and he is very wrong.

The next day, Major General Malinin, who had been appointed chief of staff of the Front, took up his post and at the same time brought Rokossovsky an order, which clearly stated: the Supreme High Command decided to rename the Stalingrad Front as the Don Front, and the commander was Lieutenant General Rokossovsky; The South-Eastern Front was renamed the Stalingrad Front, and its commander was Colonel-General Yeremenko; The 1st Guards Army was expanded into the Southwestern Front, under the command of Lieutenant General Vatutin.