Members of the command of the 1st Ukrainian Front have long been informed of the post of General Rokossovsky acting commander. The chief of staff, Lieutenant General Bogolyubov, specially sent someone to meet Rokossovsky at the airport, while himself, together with the military commissar Kryniukov, waited for Rokossovsky at the gate of the headquarters.

Rokossovsky entered the headquarters and, finding that Khrushchev was not working here, could not help but ask the new chief of staff Bogolyubov curiously: "Chief of staff, why didn't you see Comrade Khrushchev?" Did he go down there to inspect the work? ”

"No, Comrade Commander." Kryniukov hurriedly explained to Rokossovsky: "Although Comrade Khrushchev was the political commissar of the First Front of Ukraine, with the liberation of Kiev, his position also changed, and he is now the first secretary of Ukraine, mainly responsible for local work. ”

"Oh, I see." After finding out where Khrushchev went, Rokossovsky said to Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, report on your current situation. ”

"The situation is bad, Comrade Commander." "The troops of the 38th and 60th armies, having received heavy blows from the Germans in the Zhytomyr region, have retreated to the western outskirts of Kiev," Bogolyubov said with a crying face. Judging from the current situation, with their strength, it is very difficult to hold the existing position. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me remind you." As soon as Rokossovsky and Bogolyubov finished speaking, he immediately emphasized in a stern tone: "In any case, we must block the German attack, and we must never hand Kiev into the hands of the Germans again, this is a crime and absolutely intolerable." Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander, I understand it all." Bogolyubov said helplessly: "But our troops suffered heavy losses in the early battle, and the ammunition was also insufficient, and I think it will be difficult to stop the enemy until they are replenished by their superiors." ”

Rokossovsky did not speak, but picked up the roster of officers on the table and looked at it, and then said: "It turns out that the commander of the 38th Army has been replaced by Lieutenant General Berzarin, where did General Moskalenko go?" ”

"He is now the commander of the 40th Army." Bogolyubov hurriedly replied: "These adjustments were made in September or October. ”

"In the battle for the assault on Kyiv," Rokossovsky said to Bogolyubov, pointing to the map, "the 40th and 27th armies paid a huge price in order to cover the northward advance of the main forces and attract the attention of the Germans, so they did not establish any meritorious deeds in the final battle for the liberation of Kyiv." ”

Bogolyubov hurriedly nodded and replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, that's it. ”

"But in this case, their strength should be stronger than that of the 38th and 60th armies." Rokossovsky instructed Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, immediately give an order to General Moskalenko to let the 40th Army immediately counterattack the Germans, and be sure to delay the speed of the German army's advance towards Kiev and buy us precious time to build a defensive line." ”

"And what about the 38th and 60th armies?" Bogolyubov asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "Should they stay and continue fighting, or should they retreat to Kyiv to continue their rest?" ”

Rokossovsky carefully looked at the distribution of forces near Kiev, and then ordered the chief of the communications corps of the front army to give himself a call to the 60th Army. Hearing Chernyakhovsky's voice coming from the earpiece, Rokossovsky immediately said loudly: "General Chernyakhovsky, hello! ”

Hearing this familiar voice, Chernyakhovsky asked in an uncertain tone: "Excuse me, who am I having the honor of talking to?" ”

"It's me, Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky couldn't help but feel a little lost when he saw that the other party didn't hear his voice: "Didn't you hear my voice?" ”

"Hear me, Comrade Commander." Chernyakhovsky hurriedly explained: "But when my deputy asked me to answer the phone, it was a call from the front, and I thought it was from Commander Vatutin." ”

"General Vatutin is sick," because of the urgency of time, Rokossovsky did not go around in circles, but said straight to the point: "Now I am temporarily acting as the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front." Let me ask you, is your army still capable of continuing to fight? ”

"I think it should be possible." Chernyakhovsky said in a slow tone: "Our army group has suffered relatively serious attrition in the early battles, but it has never been replenished. To block the enemy's attack, it may be barely possible; But to talk about offense, this is simply impossible. ”

"General Chernyakhovsky, I know your situation. After being surrounded by the Germans, you managed to break through after fierce fighting, but the losses of your troops were very serious. Rokossovsky said loudly into the microphone: "Your task now is to build a solid defense in the existing area, and you must not allow the German army to move forward, understand?" ”

Hearing that it was just for himself to be defended, the boulder that Chernyakhovsky was hanging over his heart fell to the ground. He immediately assured Rokossovsky: "Rest assured, Comrade Commander, I assure you that the 60th Army will never let the fascist aggressors move forward any longer, and we will resolutely hold our positions." ”

Rokossovsky put down the phone and said to Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, I saw that Lieutenant General Polezhov's 47th Army was in the reserve of the Front, and now it's their turn to play." They were immediately ordered to cross the river and march westward to take over the defense of the 38th Army and resolutely hold back the enemy advancing towards Kiev. ”

After recording the order in his notebook, Bogolyubov did not immediately convey it, but asked in a respectful tone: "Comrade commander, do you have any other instructions?" ”

"We have enough troops defending Kyiv," Rokossovsky said, staring at the map: "The 11th Army in the north and the 27th Army in the south do not have to be transferred to the city, let them be responsible for the security of both flanks of the city, and the tragedy of 41 must not be repeated again." ”

In 41, the Soviet Army's Southwestern Front was surrounded and annihilated by the Germans in Kiev, hundreds of thousands of people were captured, and the commander, chief of staff, and military commissar of the Front were all killed. The Battle of Kiev was an eternal pain in the hearts of the Soviet army. When Bogolyubov heard Rokossovsky say this, a trace of anger appeared on his face, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, we will definitely not let the Germans encircle us again." Kiev, will be their grave. ”

Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction at this attitude of Bogolyubov and said: "That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, we must have this kind of conviction in order to completely defeat the fascist invaders." Alright, time is pressing, so you can immediately convey my latest order to the various army groups. ”

Bogolyubov snapped on the spot, then turned and walked towards the area where the communications equipment was placed, ready to convey Rokossovsky's latest operational orders to the commanders of the army groups.