Chapter 2210

  After Yakov came to the Third Front Army as the deputy chief of staff, he quickly became familiar with his job and did it well.

At the beginning, Cherniakhovsky was worried that Yakov was an embroidered pillow with a pack of grass, but after getting along for a while, he found that the new deputy chief of staff was really capable, and he was different from his usual The communication gradually increased.

  Although the 48th Army did not join the sequence of the Third Front Army, the 3rd Army was officially placed under the command of Cherniakhovsky according to the original plan.

  After several months of bitter fighting, the troops of the Third Front finally captured the city of Memel from the Germans and liberated the city belonging to Lithuania.

  That night, as long as the commanders and fighters were not on duty, they were all given their own vodka to celebrate the liberation of the city.

   While everyone was drinking and chatting, Yakov was still standing by the table, looking down at the map above, carefully thinking about the direction of the troops' next move. Pokrovsky put down the wine glass in his hand, got up and walked to Yakov's side, and asked curiously: "General Yakov, why don't you go drink with everyone?"

"I don't like drinking very much." Yakov said euphemistically, "After all, I haven't been here for a long time. I want to read more maps and get familiar with the situation of the troops, so that in the next few days, as your deputy, I can Give you useful rationalization suggestions."

"Don't worry, General Sokov." Pokrovsky said with a smile: "You have only been here for a few days, and it is so easy to get acquainted with this army thoroughly. You can't eat hot cheese in a hurry, slow down Take your time, as time goes on, you will naturally adapt to the work here."

"Comrade Yakov," Chernyakhovsky, who was sitting at the table talking to Makarov, greeted him when he saw that Yakov was still standing in front of the table where the battle map was placed: " No matter what work you have today, put it down first, let's celebrate this great victory first."

  Hearing Cherniakhovsky call himself, Yakov realized that if he didn't go there, he would be uninterested, so he walked over side by side with Pokrovsky.

Seeing Yakov approaching, Cherniakhovsky stretched out his hand and pulled him to sit down, and said with a smile: "Comrade Yakov, we are all comrades in arms, so there is no need to be so restrained." A tea mug full of vodka was handed to Yakov: "Come, take a sip!"

   Facing Cherniakhovsky's enthusiasm, Yakov said with some embarrassment: "I don't drink much."

"I don't know how to drink either," Cherniakhovsky said. "But today the situation is different. We are celebrating the victory. After months of **** battle, we finally liberated the city of Memel. A city belonging to Lithuania."

Yakov had no choice but to take the tea mug in Cherniakhovsky's hand, bring it to his mouth and take a sip, and then put it on the table: "Comrade Commander, I see that Memel The city is not too big, why can't our troops take the city for so long?"

Cherniakhovsky, who was originally smiling, immediately froze when he heard Yakov's question. He never dreamed that Yakov would ask such a disappointing question at such a happy moment. topic of.

Fortunately, Chief of Staff Pokrovsky rescued Cherniakhovsky in time: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you are right, Memel is indeed a small city, but its terrain is very It is dangerous. The city is surrounded by hills and forests on three sides, which is not conducive to the deployment of troops. And the only passable road has been under the artillery blockade of the German army for a long time. Our army will definitely pay a huge price for attacking from this direction. casualties."

"When we first attacked, we didn't realize this problem. Thinking about how many defenders can there be in such a big city. One regiment, two regiments, or one division? We used seven or eight times the strength to attack, It will not be easy to take this city."

Hearing Pokrovsky talk about the battle to attack Memel, Yakov adjusted his sitting posture and listened carefully to the other party's narration. He wanted to find out why a small city used It took several months to conquer, and the attacking troops also paid a lot of casualties. If every city to be attacked next is as difficult to attack as Memel, wouldn't it take several years to capture the entire East Prussian region?

I just heard Pokrovsky continue: "The infantry division in charge of the main attack was suddenly attacked by artillery fire from inside the city when it was approaching the city. The attacking troops were hit by the sudden artillery fire at that time. The division commanders in the battle were all seriously injured by the artillery fire. After the enemy's artillery bombardment stopped, they lost the unit under unified command and fell into chaos. Some rushed towards the city, and some retreated towards the starting position..."

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, stop talking." Before Pokrovsky could finish speaking, Cherniakhovsky interrupted him: "There is no need to talk about things that have passed. After all, we have finally captured this city, and it can be regarded as avenging the sacrificed soldiers."

Yakov wanted to ask about the details of the liberation of the city. Seeing that Cherniakhovsky was unwilling to bring up the matter, he guessed that the other party must have received a lot of blame from his superiors for the city. Sprinkling salt on the other party's wound, he closed his mouth wisely.

Makarov handed Yakov two potatoes, pushed a small dish with fine salt in front of him, and said in a friendly tone: "General Yakov, you must be hungry, come and eat two Potato."

  After thanking the other party, Yakov took the still hot potato, carefully peeled off the outer skin, dipped it in salt, and then put it in his mouth.

   "General Yakov," Makarov pushed another plate of sliced ​​sausages in front of Yakov, and continued to ask with concern, "Have you gotten used to life here?"

   "I'm used to it, Comrade Military Commissioner." Yakov nodded and said, "After the war broke out, I also spent a lot of time on the front line."

   "Oh, have you been on the front line?" Pokrovsky asked curiously as he heard about this for the first time, "I wonder which unit you have been in?"

"I have served in many troops, so I won't explain them one by one." Yakov said with a smile: "My main task is to send new weapons to my good friend Misha's troops, so which group army he is in, I will Which army group will you stay in when you arrive at the front line?"

   Hearing Yakov mention Sokov, Cherniakhovsky felt uncomfortable. Originally, he thought that the combat effectiveness of his third front army was weak. If an elite unit like Sokov joined in, the combat effectiveness of the front army could be improved. But unexpectedly, the cooked duck flew away. Just the day before the 3rd and 48th Army Groups were to be placed under their own command, they received an order from the Supreme Command, saying that the 48th Army Group that was originally scheduled to be assigned to their own command, because Due to special reasons, it will remain in the battle sequence of the Second Front Army.

When he received this order, Cherniakhovsky was also quite confused. He didn't know what happened. It actually made the Supreme Commander himself change his mind, put the original plan under his command, and continue Remain in the original order of battle.

  However, after getting to know him through acquaintances, he realized that the change in this matter was entirely because of Yakov. It is said that the Supreme Commander himself was worried that if the 48th Army was allocated to the command of the Third Front Army, then Yakov, who served as the deputy chief of staff at the Front Army Command, would strongly request to go to the 48th Army because of his friendship with Sokov. . In order to reduce Yakov's risk at the front, the Supreme Commander himself finally made the decision to keep Sokov's troops in Rokossovsky's order of battle.

After figuring out what was going on, Cherniakhovsky secretly regretted it. If he had acted resolutely when Yakov called to beg him, and rejected his request decisively, then Sokov The 48th Army can be officially placed under its own command. It's a pity that there is no medicine for regret in the world. At this time, even if Cherniakhovsky wanted to regret it, it would be too late.

On the first day Yakov came to report, although Cherniakhovsky personally brought people to the door to greet him, his heart was full of resistance. Leave, so that I can still fight with the Supreme Commander himself to see if I can put Sokov's troops under my command again.

  However, after getting along for a period of time, he found that Yakov is actually very good. He didn't behave arrogantly and arrogantly in front of everyone just because he was the eldest son of the Supreme Commander himself. On the contrary, he was polite to everyone, and the staff of the headquarters developed a good impression of him in a short period of time.

   "Comrade Yakov," Cherniakhovsky took a sip from the tea mug, looked at Yakov and asked, "Are you interested in going outside?"

"Comrade Commander, there are so many jobs here every day, how can I have time to go out and walk around." Yakov politely rejected Cherniakhovsky's proposal, and said to himself: "I think I still stay in the headquarters to sort out the battle report, which seems to be more fulfilling."

  Yakov's words caused everyone to laugh. Pokrovsky picked up the tea mug on the table and handed it to Yakov: "General Yakov, take another sip."

  The kindness is hard to turn down, Yakov couldn't refuse, so he took another sip of wine, and then put down the glass. He tentatively asked: "Since we have captured Memel, shouldn't the position of the headquarters also be moved forward?"

"That's for sure." Pokrovsky continued: "I just took Memel today, so the troops have to rest for two days before moving forward. Comrade commander, I think it's better to let the troops Rest in place for two days, and wait until the third day, and then move the headquarters forward, how about it?"

  Hearing Pokrovsky's suggestion, Cherniakhovsky thought for a while, then nodded and said, "I think it's okay."

Now that the troops were about to move forward, Yakov felt that it was time for him to make suggestions, and he quickly said: "After this period of fighting, the commanders and fighters of each army group are very tired, and the ammunition is also consumed. and the replenishment of ammunition. I think it’s better to transfer the new Third Army to the forefront, don’t you know?”

"Of course." Hearing what Yakov said, Pokrovsky said with a look of surprise: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, to tell you the truth, I also thought about it just now, I didn't expect you to say it first .”

"Comrade Sokov, just do as you want." Cherniakhovsky said: "You have been here for so long, and I haven't taken you to the troops below. This time, taking advantage of the first The 3rd Group Army moved to defense, I will take you to meet the commanders of the various group armies, which will also benefit your future work.”

Even if Yakov was reluctant to leave the headquarters, but hearing what Cherniakhovsky said, he could only bite the bullet and agree: "Okay, Comrade Commander, since you want to take me to know the various armies Commander, after the troops complete the task of moving defense, I will follow you down there."

Hearing that Cherniakhovsky planned to take Yakov to the various armies to familiarize himself with the environment, Pokrovsky offered: "Comrade commander, I think you can take Yakov with you after the troops complete the task of moving defense." Let the deputy chief of staff go to the 3rd Army first to see how their mental outlook is."

"I think so." For Pokrovsky's proposal, Cherniakhovsky naturally felt that it made sense. In any case, a unit has just arrived in a new environment. If their new superior can Visiting them for the first time can also boost morale for the commanders and fighters. Therefore, he secretly pondered in his heart, which day he should take Yakov to the 3rd Army to find out the actual situation of this army.

  Cherniakhovsky and others were almost drunk before leaving the headquarters, leaving only Yakov, who was still awake, on duty. Yakov saw a communications soldier dozing off on his seat, so he pointed at him with his hand and shouted, "Communication soldier!"

  Hearing Yakov calling himself, the communications soldier stood up suddenly, straightened his body and looked at Yakov, trying to figure out why he called himself.

   "Can our phone make outside calls?"

   "Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." The communications soldier nodded and said, "You can call outside lines. I wonder if you want to call Moscow or some other city?"

   "Neither." Yakov shook his head and said, "I want to call the headquarters of the 48th Army. How about it? Can I get through?"

   "Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff. But it may take longer, please wait patiently."

   "Then hurry up and call."

   A few minutes later, the communications soldier reported to Yakov: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, the call has been connected."

   Soon Sokov's voice came from the other end of the phone: "I'm Sokov, who are you?"

   "Misha, it's me. Yakov!"

   "Ah, Yasha?!" Hearing Yakov's voice from the receiver, Sokov asked in surprise, "Where are you?"

   "Where else can I be, of course it is in the headquarters of the Third Front Army." Yakov said: "I have nothing to do at night, so I just want to call you to chat."

   "I heard that you are now the deputy chief of staff of the Third Front Army. Congratulations." Sokov asked with a smile, "How is it? Are you used to life there?"

   "Yes, I'm used to it."

   "Did you go to the various armies and get to know the commanders?"

"Not yet." Yakov shook his head and said, "But the commander promised me that he would take me to the front in a few days and get to know the commanders of the various armies. This will be very beneficial to my future work. .”

  (end of this chapter)