When Zhukov finished speaking, he beckoned me to his desk.

Seeing me walk to the desk, he took out a notebook, opened it, spread it on the table, looked up and said to me, "Lida, now I will introduce to you the basic situation of the 6th Army. ”

When I heard that Zhukov was going to brief me on the troops, I immediately took out a pen and paper from my briefcase and prepared to take notes.

"...... the 6th Guards Army" As soon as Zhukov opened his mouth, I was surprised, wasn't it the original Khalidonov's 6th Army, how did it become the 6th Guards Army again? Although both are group armies, there is a world of difference in treatment.

I raised my hand to interrupt Zhukov's later words, and in his dissatisfied gaze, I asked tremblingly: "Comrade Marshal, allow me to ask, didn't you say that I was asked to go to the 6th Army, where General Kharytonov once served as its commander, how did it become the 6th Guards Army again?" ”

When Zhukov heard this, he turned his head and asked Vasilevsky in astonishment: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, didn't you tell Lida which army group she is going to be the commander of?" ”

Vasilevsky said in surprise: "Comrade Marshal, it was you who personally called Lida and asked her to rush back to Moscow immediately. I thought you told her everything on the phone. ”

Zhukov didn't speak, and turned his gaze to Bezikov, who had gone to pick me up at the train station. Bezikov jumped up from his seat, stood straight in front of Zhukov, and replied without squinting: "Comrade Marshal, I thought that Lida had already learned from you about the unit she was about to take up her post, so when I chatted with her on the way, I used the number of the 6th Army, and did not specifically emphasize to her that it was the Guards Army. ”

Faced with this oolong he made, Zhukov smiled bitterly. A little embarrassed to say to me: "I'm sorry, Leda, this matter is my fault, I didn't make it clear to you in time, please understand!" ”

How can I afford Zhukov to apologize to me in public, and hurriedly waved his hand desperately and said: "Comrade Marshal." It's not your fault, it's all my fault, and when I was on the road, I didn't think to check with Colonel Bezikov, otherwise there would have been no such an oolong incident. When I said this, I couldn't help but secretly rejoice, fortunately, I figured it out before I set off, otherwise it would be really embarrassing to really run to the 6th Army to take office.

Zhukov then explained to me: "The 6th Guards Army was reorganized from the 21st Army. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, this group army was formed on the basis of the Volga Military District, with two infantry corps and one mechanized corps, which were successively incorporated into the Western Front, the Central Front, the Bryansk Front, the Southwestern Front, the Stalingrad Front, and the Don Front. It has participated in the Battle of Smolensk, the Battle of Kiev, the Battle of the Severodonets River, the Battle of Kharkov, and the Battle of Stalingrad.

In April of this year, the army group was reorganized into the 6th Guards Army, and the former commander of the army, Major General Danilov, is now the deputy commander of the army. He is a veteran commander with a lot of combat experience, and I hope you go later. If you can get along with him well, if you have any questions, you can ask him for advice, and he will definitely help you with all his might. ”

Naturally, I agreed to Zhukov's advice: "Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Although General Danilov is my deputy, I will definitely respect his opinion and will not act arbitrarily in my usual work. ”

Zhukov was very satisfied with my statement, and after nodding his head, he continued: "The current establishment of the army group. There are the 51st, 52nd, 67th and 71st Guards Infantry Divisions, as well as the 326th and 375th Infantry Divisions, as well as two tank brigades, five artillery regiments, two heavy mortar regiments and three Guards rocket artillery battalions. ”

When I heard that the number of artillery had increased again, I could not help but feel a pang of ecstasy, because in this way the output of the fire of the army group would be greatly strengthened, and whether it was defensive or offensive, it would be enough for the Germans to drink a pot. After I finished recording what Zhukov said, I took advantage of his temporary pause to interject and ask: "Comrade Marshal, I don't know how the weapons and equipment of my troops are?" "I ask this because I am in command of the Guards, and the equipment of the troops must be far better than that of other troops.

When Zhukov heard what I said, he and Vasilevsky looked at each other, pointed at me with his hand, and said with a smile: "We guessed that you would ask this question." Since you asked about it, if you don't tell you, I guess you won't even be able to sleep well tonight. As he spoke, he flipped through the pages of the notebook on his desk and continued, "The kind of Kalashnikov rifle you know, because the production volume is not enough to meet the needs of all the troops, in your army group, only three guards divisions are equipped. The ordinary infantry divisions still use Mosin Lagan rifles and Bobosha submachine guns, but they will gradually be reequipped after August. ”

"What about tanks?" Thinking that I still have two tank brigades under my command, I couldn't wait to ask again as soon as Zhukov finished talking about the equipment of the infantry.

"As for tanks, the latest tanks appear at the parade, and because there are still many technical problems that have not yet been overcome, it may not be possible to equip the troops within two years." After Zhukov said this, he added: "Of course, the tank brigade has been reequipped and equipped with another new type of tank, which can also form an overwhelming advantage over German tanks on the battlefield." ”

When I heard that the two tank brigades could be equipped with new tanks like the T-54/55, I felt much more at ease. But then it occurred to me that the Battle of Kursk was the largest tank battle in the history of warfare, and if the tank brigades did not have a unified command, then the Germans could be defeated in the battle. Thinking of this, I suggested to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, I have an idea, in order to facilitate the command, can the two tank brigades be combined into a single tank corps and a commander with combat experience will be appointed to take charge of the command?" ”

Hearing my proposal, Zhukov turned his head again to look at Vasilevsky next to him, and after the two made eye contact for a while, Zhukov turned his head again and looked at me and said: "We can merge two tank brigades into one tank corps, but do you have a candidate for a commander?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." I immediately gave Zhukov an affirmative answer.

"Who is it?" Zhukov and Vasilevsky asked in unison.

"Colonel Bere." The words of the two just fell. I said the candidate I had already considered in my heart: "He used to be the commander of the 84th tank brigade, and he had participated in many battles and had rich combat experience. Later, in the battle on the outskirts of Zaporosh, he withdrew from the battle because he was wounded, and I think he has now recovered from his wounds and is fully qualified for the post of army commander. ”

"You don't have an opinion. Comrade Vasilevsky. After listening to my opinion, Zhukov did not express his position at first, but turned his head and asked Vasilevsky. Seeing that the other party shook his head and said that he had no objection, he said to me with a calm expression: "Well, since you recommended Colonel Bere, then he will take the post of commander of the tank corps." Seeing my happy smile, he hurriedly added: "But I can't promote his rank until he achieves great results." That is, he can only be this army commander with the rank of colonel. ”

"No problem, Comrade Marshal." I remembered that after the Great Purge, the troops were full of majors, division commanders, and captains, and I felt that it was not a matter of letting Colonel Bere be a military commander. "I'm sure Colonel Bere's consciousness doesn't care about rank."

"It's good if you don't care." Zhukov muttered, and then said: "Next." Let me give you another introduction to the leaders of each division so that you can have a preliminary understanding of your subordinates. ”

"The commander of the 51st Guards Infantry Division, Major General Tawart Kiradze. He was an excellent commander with a brave and fearless spirit, and the troops under his command achieved good results in battles in many places......

The 52nd Guards Infantry Division, formed in Voronezh in December 1941, was originally known as the Motorized Division of the Internal Guards of the NKVD, with the 6th, 16th, and 28th Motorized Infantry Regiments. The 10th Howitzer Artillery Regiment and other auxiliary units. The division commander was Colonel Nekrasov......

The 71st Guards Infantry Division, formerly the 1st Ust-Medvedtskaya Infantry Division, formed in October 1918, is a team with a glorious tradition. Initially, there were the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Medveditskaya Revolutionary Infantry and the 3rd Regiment of the Bravinian Cavalry. In the spring of 1918, the above-mentioned regiments fought against the Cossack White Guards in the Don region. In the Great Patriotic War, the division brilliantly fulfilled all the combat missions assigned by its superiors, and showed heroic tenacity and a high degree of organizational discipline in the battle. In March of this year, it was renamed the 71st Guards Infantry Division. At present, it is composed of the 89th, 117th, and 225th Infantry Regiments, the 211th Light Artillery Regiment, the 226th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, and other units, and the division commander is Colonel Sivakov. ……”

Zhukov spoke for ten minutes before he finished briefing me on the situation of the three guards divisions and the two infantry divisions. Just when I thought he had finished the introduction, Vasilevsky, who was next to me, suddenly interjected: "Lida, I have another good news for you. ”

Good news?! When I heard Vasilevsky say this, I couldn't help but look at him in wonder, and said in my heart what other news is more important than me becoming the commander of the 6th Guards Army?

"In order to strengthen the strength of your army group, we have decided this morning to replenish you with another infantry division, after consulting with Comrade Stalin." Seeing that I was stunned, Vasilevsky couldn't help but smile smugly on his face, and he also deliberately emphasized: "It's not an ordinary infantry division, it's a guards division." ”

"I don't know which Guards Division?" When I heard that I would have to be given another guard division, I almost shouted excitedly, "Ula! However, I tried to stabilize my emotions and asked Vasilevsky with a smile: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I wonder which Guards Division you plan to assign to my army group?" ”

"77th Guards Division." Vasilevsky casually said the number of the troops.

After I re-read the number of this Guards Division, I didn't feel any impression at all, so I shook my head and said: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I don't know much about this division, can you give me a brief introduction to the situation?" ”

Seeing that I really did not know anything about this unit, Vasilevsky patiently explained to me: "The 77th Guards Division, formed in Moscow in July 1041, was originally called the 21st Infantry Division of the Moscow Militia, and in September it was renamed the 173rd Infantry Division, which included the 1311th, 1313th, and 1315th Infantry Regiments, the 979th Artillery Regiment and other units.

During the Battle of Moscow, they fought within the formation of the 33rd Army of the Reserve Front, and for the first time engaged in the battle against the Germans southwest of Kirov in Kaluga. In late October and early December, within the formation of the 50th Army of the Western Front, tough defensive battles were fought in the areas of Belev, Veniov and Kahira. From 1941 to 1942, in the early stage of our army's counteroffensive and during the period of general offensive to the west, it successively fought within the formation of the 49th and 50th Group Armies of the Western Front. On December 9, 1941, in coordination with the 322nd Infantry Division of the 10th Army, Venyov was recaptured. From the second half of April 1942, he held the positions he had occupied. In August 1942, he changed his deployment to the southwest and participated in the glorious Battle of Stalingrad within the formation of many army groups of the Stalingrad Front. Because the officers and men of the division showed bravery, tenacity, resoluteness and courage in the battle against the German army, and showed a high degree of organization and discipline.

Now the regiments have been renumbered, and the division is composed of the 215th, 217th, and 219th Guards Infantry Regiments, two artillery regiments, and other units, and the division commander is Colonel Askarepov. ”

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," as soon as Vasilevsky finished speaking, Zhukov reminded him: "The division commander is not a colonel, but a major general, who has just been promoted in March. After correcting Vasilevsky's mistake, Zhukov said to me: "According to the original plan, the division was supposed to be incorporated into the 61st Army of the Bryansk Front, but after repeated study by me and my colleagues in the high command, it was found that the most likely area for the enemy to launch an offensive was the Prokhorovka region in the territory of the Voronezh Front. Therefore, I have temporarily decided to place this division under your command. ”

After Zhukov finished speaking, he asked me with a blank face: "Lida, do you have any questions?" ”

I hurriedly closed the notebook in my hand, my hands naturally drooped, straightened my body, and replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Marshal, there is no problem." ”

"Since there is no problem, then you can go back first." Zhukov unceremoniously gave me an order to evict the guests: "Let Colonel Bezikov cooperate with you, form the guard regiment overnight, and rush to your headquarters early tomorrow morning." ”

"Yes!" Bezikov and I replied neatly and loudly. (To be continued.) )