Rokossovsky's prominence in the Belarusian campaign made Stalin look at him differently. But today for the sake of the "Russian Liberation Army", Stalin has a grudge against him.

After Stalin put down the phone, he sat in his seat and thought for a long time, then picked up the phone and dialed the General Staff: "I'm Stalin, let Antonov answer the phone." ”

Antonov, who was looking at the map, heard that Stalin was looking for him, and he didn't know what was happening, so he hurriedly walked over and took the microphone from his deputy, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, I am Antonov, do you have any important instructions?" ”

Stalin was silent for a moment, and then asked slowly: "What is the current situation of the Second Belorussian Front?" ”

"Comrade Stalin," said Antonov, although he had just reported to Stalin yesterday on the situation of the Second Front, and when he heard Stalin ask again, he replied truthfully: "During the period from July 5 to 25, the troops of the Front successfully carried out the Battle of Bialystok and achieved certain results.

According to their reported battle plan, they intend to carry out the Battle of Osovits from 14 August in order to completely regain Bialystok, Osovets and a number of other settlements in Western Belarus. ”

"Comrade Antonov," Stalin waited for Antonov to finish, and then asked, "Don't you think that the command of the Second Belorussian Front is a little weaker?" You know, their next task is to cooperate with the Baltic Coastal Front to attack East Prussia. With the abilities of the current commander of the Front, Zakharov, it will be difficult to accomplish such a task. ”

"Comrade Stalin," Antonov said with some confusion when he heard Stalin's emphasis on strengthening the command of the Second Belorussian Front: "At present, several competent marshals are in the position of commander of the Front, and we cannot find a suitable candidate to replace General Zakharov for the time being." ”

"Yes," said Stalin, as soon as Antonov finished speaking, in a firm tone: "We have someone who can replace Zakharov?" ”

Antono, confused, asked rhetorically, "Who is it?" ”

"Rokossovsky." After Stalin spat out the name from his mouth, the whole person became relaxed: "I think it is very appropriate for him to replace Zakharov as commander of the Second Belorussian Front." ”

"But, Comrade Stalin." When Antonov heard Stalin say this, a strange thought even popped up in his head: was Comrade Stalin drunk, so he said these inexplicable words, didn't he know that Rokossovsky was commanding the 1st Belorussian Front, which was engaged in a fierce battle with the German army on the territory of Poland? So he hurriedly reminded Stalin euphemistically: "Comrade Stalin, but Marshal Rokossovsky is now the commander of the First Belorussian Front, and if he is transferred to the Second Front as commander, then who can take his place?" ”

"You don't have to worry about that." Stalin confidently said: "I think it is very appropriate for Zhukov to take his place." ”

"Comrade Stalin," Stalin's words almost drove Antonov crazy, and he quickly took two deep breaths, and then said into the microphone: "The current situation on the Vistula and Warsaw is very delicate, and I think it would be inappropriate for us to change the commander of the front at such a time." ”

"Zhukov will replace Rokossovsky as commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, and Rokossovsky will replace Zakharov as commander of the 2nd Front. So it was decided. Stalin said in a domineering tone: "In a moment you will convey this order in the name of the General Staff." ”

Although Antonov did not know what was happening, he still wanted to try hard to get Stalin to change this ridiculous decision: "Comrade Stalin, Marshal Zhukov is in Moscow at the moment. Look, did you talk to him personally? According to his thoughts, Zhukov would certainly oppose the replacement of the commander of the Front at such a time, and Stalin would certainly be able to retract his mandate.

After listening to this suggestion from Antonov, Stalin was silent for a moment, and then said: "Well, Comrade Antonov, the order to replace the commander of the front will not be given for the time being, and I will talk to Zhukov first. ”

After the end of the phone call with Antonov, Stalin made another phone call to Poskorebeshev outside the house, and slowly instructed him: "Comrade Poskerebeshev, let Marshal Zhukov come to me, I have important matters to discuss with him." ”

Zhukov was currently working with Molotov at the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs to discuss the details of how to negotiate with the Polish delegation. Suddenly the phone on the table rang, Molotov picked up the phone, listened for a moment, and said with a smile: "Hello, Comrade Boskrebeshev, is Comrade Stalin looking for me?" ”

Unexpectedly, Bosk Klebeshev, who was on the other end of the phone, said dryly: "Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, is Marshal Zhukov there with you?" ”

Molotov did not know why Pos Krebeshev would look for Zhukov, but still answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Pos Klebeshev, Marshal Zhukov is with me." After saying that, he handed the phone to Zhukov.

Hearing Zhukov's voice coming from the earpiece, Boskrebeshev said dryly, in a voice without any emotion: "Comrade Marshal, please come to Comrade Stalin's office as soon as possible, he has important matters to discuss with you." ”

Zhukov knew Stalin's character very well, and since he asked Poskorebyshev to personally call Molotov to find him, it proved that something great must have happened. Putting down the phone, he said goodbye to Molotov and rushed to the Kremlin by car.

When he walked into Stalin's office, he saw Stalin holding his famous pipe, one hand behind his back, walking back and forth in the open space of the house. Hearing the sound of Zhukov entering the door, he only glanced up, but did not stop his steps.

Seeing Stalin so abnormal, Zhukov suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart. But instead of speaking, he stared at Stalin's body, waiting for him to say his first words.

After some time, Stalin finally stopped, looked at Zhukov and asked: "Comrade Zhukov, if I were ordered to be the commander of a front, I wonder if he would agree to my arrangement." ”

"Comrade Stalin," hearing Stalin's question, Zhukov hurriedly expressed his position to him: "I resolutely obey your arrangement. He knew very well in his heart that Stalin had called himself here not to arrange his next post, but to have something more important, so after a pause, he then asked, "I wonder which front you are going to send me to command the troops to fight?" ”

Stalin waited for him to finish, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked: "What do you think of you taking the post of commander of the 1st Belorussian Front?" ”

"What, the 1st Belorussian Front?" When Zhukov heard Stalin's number, he was shocked. He was silent for a long time this time before he opened his mouth and asked: "Comrade Stalin, I don't understand, why did you ask me to be the commander of the 1st Belorussian Front?" You know, this unit, under the command of Rokossovsky, was engaged in a desperate battle with the German army in Poland. I think it is very inappropriate to change the commander at such a time. ”

After listening to Zhukov's words, Stalin sneered, and then said: "Comrade Zhukov, why are your words exactly the same as what Antonov said?" ”

From Stalin's words, Zhukov guessed that Antonov, like himself, was opposed to changing generals at such a time. He wanted to dissuade Stalin from making such a decision, but before doing so, he felt compelled to find out what was going on. So he asked Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, I don't understand, why Rokossovsky's troops were fighting well in Poland, so why he was suddenly removed from the post of commander?" ”

"Comrade Zhukov, I want to correct you a word." Stalin said to Zhukov with a blank face: "Not a removal, but a transfer." In order to strengthen the command of the Second Belorussian Front, I decided to transfer Rokossovsky there as commander. And the place he vacates is up to you to take over. ”

Zhukov understood very well that things would never be as simple as Stalin said, and that something that he did not know about must have happened behind the scenes. Therefore, he did not immediately agree to Stalin, but said euphemistically: "Comrade Stalin, this appointment you proposed is very sudden for me, and I need time to think about it. Do you allow it? ”

Stalin nodded and said reasonably: "Well, I'll give you a day to think about it, and you will give me a final answer tomorrow morning." ”

Molotov did not know why Pos Krebeshev would look for Zhukov, but still answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Pos Klebeshev, Marshal Zhukov is with me." After saying that, he handed the phone to Zhukov.

Hearing Zhukov's voice coming from the earpiece, Boskrebeshev said dryly, in a voice without any emotion: "Comrade Marshal, please come to Comrade Stalin's office as soon as possible, he has important matters to discuss with you." ”

Zhukov knew Stalin's character very well, and since he asked Poskorebyshev to personally call Molotov to find him, it proved that something great must have happened. Putting down the phone, he said goodbye to Molotov and rushed to the Kremlin by car.

When he walked into Stalin's office, he saw Stalin holding his famous pipe, one hand behind his back, walking back and forth in the open space of the house. Hearing the sound of Zhukov entering the door, he only glanced up, but did not stop his steps.

Seeing Stalin so abnormal, Zhukov suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart. But instead of speaking, he stared at Stalin's body, waiting for him to say his first words.

After some time, Stalin finally stopped, looked at Zhukov and asked: "Comrade Zhukov, if I were ordered to be the commander of a front, I wonder if he would agree to my arrangement." ”

"Comrade Stalin," hearing Stalin's question, Zhukov hurriedly expressed his position to him: "I resolutely obey your arrangement. He knew very well in his heart that Stalin had called himself here not to arrange his next post, but to have something more important, so after a pause, he then asked, "I wonder which front you are going to send me to command the troops to fight?" ”

Stalin waited for him to finish, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked: "What do you think of you taking the post of commander of the 1st Belorussian Front?" ”

"What, the 1st Belorussian Front?" When Zhukov heard Stalin's number, he was shocked. He was silent for a long time this time before he opened his mouth and asked: "Comrade Stalin, I don't understand, why did you ask me to be the commander of the 1st Belorussian Front?" You know, this unit, under the command of Rokossovsky, was engaged in a desperate battle with the German army in Poland. I think it is very inappropriate to change the commander at such a time. ”

After listening to Zhukov's words, Stalin sneered, and then said: "Comrade Zhukov, why are your words exactly the same as what Antonov said?" ”

From Stalin's words, Zhukov guessed that Antonov, like himself, was opposed to changing generals at such a time. He wanted to dissuade Stalin from making such a decision, but before doing so, he felt compelled to find out what was going on. So he asked Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, I don't understand, why Rokossovsky's troops were fighting well in Poland, so why he was suddenly removed from the post of commander?" ”

"Comrade Zhukov, I want to correct you a word." Stalin said to Zhukov with a blank face: "Not a removal, but a transfer." In order to strengthen the command of the Second Belorussian Front, I decided to transfer Rokossovsky there as commander. And the place he vacates is up to you to take over. ”

Zhukov understood very well that things would never be as simple as Stalin said, and that something that he did not know about must have happened behind the scenes. Therefore, he did not immediately agree to Stalin, but said euphemistically: "Comrade Stalin, this appointment you proposed is very sudden for me, and I need time to think about it. Do you allow it? ”

Stalin nodded and said reasonably: "Well, I'll give you a day to think about it, and you will give me a final answer tomorrow morning." ”

In order to find out what was going on, Zhukov left Stalin's office and went straight to Antonov's. After entering the door, he kicked out some of the staff officers in the room, then closed the door and nervously asked Antonov: "Comrade Antonov, what happened at the front?" ”

Zhukov's words confused Antonov, and he said with a confused face: "Something happened at the front?" What's wrong? ”