The fighting of the Western Front in the Bryansk direction, which lasted a week. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 Although the Germans desperately carried out counter-assaults, they were never able to recapture the first line of defense occupied by the Soviets. And the situation of the Soviet army was not much better, in the face of the German army's crazy counterattack, even with the help of the air force, it could only maintain the defensive line from being broken through, and it was not capable of pushing forward further.

The tug-of-war in the Bryansk direction held back a large number of German forces and prevented them from mobilizing more forces to strengthen the Kharkiv region. At the same time, the besieged Soviet troops, consisting of the 317th, 393rd and 150th Infantry Divisions, the 49th and 26th Cavalry Divisions, the 5th Guards Division, and the 5th and 37th Tank Brigades, launched an assault on the Germans. After suffering heavy losses, the breakout force finally broke through the lines of the German 60th Motorized Rifle Division and the 389th Infantry Division, and regained contact with the 38th Army outside the encirclement.

After the failure of the offensive in Kharkov, there were no more major battles in the Bryansk direction, and the Western Front entered a stalemate with the Germans in their own defensive areas. Due to the serious shortage of troops of the Western Front, while driving the enemy away, they also fell into a disadvantageous position, the battle line was lengthened, and many areas did not have enough strength to defend, and as a result, there was a situation of gaining and losing.

On the second day of July, Rokossovsky received a call from Zhukov. After a brief greeting, Zhukov suddenly asked: "Konstantin Konstantinovich, do you think Colonel Malinin is competent for the job of commander of the army group?" ”

When Rokossovsky heard Zhukov say this, he couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked rhetorically: "Georgy Konstantinovich, I don't know which army group you plan to appoint him as commander." When he said this, he was still thinking about which commander in the front army would be replaced.

Who knew that Zhukov did not answer his question, but continued to ask: "You don't care about this for the time being, you only need to answer me, whether he is suitable to be the commander of the group army." ”

Rokossovsky glanced at Malinin, who was busy, and replied decisively: "Yes, Comrade General, I think that with Comrade Malinin's ability, he is fully qualified for the post of commander of the army group. ”

"It's great." After listening to Rokossovsky's answer, Zhukov said happily: "I now inform you that the base camp is ready to appoint you as commander of the Bryansk Front. You first have a conversation with Malinin, and as soon as the official orders from the base camp arrive, you will rush back to Moscow to accept a new appointment. ”

Zhukov's words made Rokossovsky feel like he was dreaming, why did he suddenly appoint himself as the commander of the front army without warning beforehand? Although he now has the ability to command a group army, it does not mean that he can command a front army well. Thinking of this, he said to Zhukov euphemistically: "Comrade General, this appointment is too sudden, a bit unexpected to me, and I am afraid that I will not be able to perform this post. Let's see if you can negotiate with the base camp to have another commander take on this important position. ”

"Rokossovsky, do you think the order of the base camp is negotiable?" Zhukov said with some displeasure: "Comrade Stalin nominated you for this post because he believes that you have such ability, and you should not live up to his trust?" ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, he found that there were people standing in front of him, and he looked at everyone with some surprise and asked, "What are you all standing here for?" ”

Lobachev smiled and stretched out his hand to him: "Comrade commander, I heard the conversation between you and General Zhukov. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 16th Army, I congratulate you on your assumption of a higher post. ”

After shaking hands with Lobachev, countless more hands reached out towards Rokossovsky, and he could only shake hands with the men who congratulated him. After the staff officers dispersed, Rokossovsky stopped Malinin, who was about to walk away, and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please stay, I have something important to talk to you about." ”

Malinin sat down opposite Rokossovsky and looked at him quietly without speaking. Rokossovsky coughed lightly, cleared his throat and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the order of the superiors, after I take up the post of commander of the Bryansk Front, the post of commander of the 16th Army will be taken over by you. Here, I congratulate you in advance. After speaking, he took the initiative to stretch out his hand to Ma Lining.

Unexpectedly, when Malinin heard Rokossovsky say this, he hurriedly put his hands behind his back, shook his head desperately and said: "Comrade commander, I beg your pardon, I can't hold this position." As a commander of a group army, he has a great responsibility for perseverance, and at the same time requires the ability to take charge of himself, which I obviously do not have, and I ask my superiors to let me continue to serve as chief of staff. ”

Rokossovsky was also surprised to see that Malinin actually turned down the post of commander of the army group, which was readily available. He tried hard to persuade Ma Lining, hoping that he would change his mind: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you also know that in our army, there is a tradition of despising staff officers, and now serving as the commander of the group army is a rare plan, so you should not let it go lightly." ”

"Comrade commander," Malinin replied resolutely to Rokossovsky's persuasion: "I understand everything you say, but I only want to be a chief of staff, and I don't want to be a commander. ”

Although Rokossovsky persuaded him twice, Malinin was still stubborn. When persuasion failed, Rokossovsky could only helplessly say: "Comrade Chief of Staff, since you resolutely refuse to be the commander of the army group, then I can only call and tell General Zhukov about your decision to see what kind of decision he will make." ”

"What, Malinin is unwilling to take the post of commander of the army group?" When Zhukov heard Rokossovsky say this, he was also taken aback, and hurriedly emphasized: "Have you told him that this is a rare opportunity, and if you miss it, you will want to be it in the future, and you will not get the approval of your superiors." ”

When Rokossovsky heard this, he instinctively looked at Malinin, who was sitting opposite, and hoped in his heart that he would change his mind at this moment and agree to Zhukov's proposal to become the new commander of the 16th Army. But Malinin stared into Rokossovsky's eyes and shook his head with a serious expression.

"Yes, Comrade General, I have said everything that should be said, but he is still stubborn." Rokossovsky looked at Malinin and said helplessly: "He always felt that the most suitable thing for him was the post of chief of staff of the group army." ”

After listening to this, Zhukov let out a long sigh and finally said: "Well, since Comrade Malinin is unwilling to take up the post of commander of the group army, then I will not be reluctant. Originally, there were two candidates for this position, and Ma Lining was one of them, and since he was unwilling to be promoted, then I could only leave the opportunity to others. ”

"Comrade General," Hearing that Zhukov was preparing to appoint a new candidate, Rokossovsky hurriedly asked: "I don't know who the other candidate is?"

"Major General Baghramyan, the former chief of operations of the Southwestern Front, this candidate was recommended by Marshal Timoshenko." Zhukov said on the phone: "Since Malinin is not willing to be the commander, then I will ask the base camp to appoint Bagramian as the new commander of the 16th Army." You don't have an opinion, right? ”

"No," Rokossovsky, who had fought alongside Baghramyan, would naturally have no objection to him taking over his post, so he replied simply: "I think Major General Bagramian is a suitable candidate." ”