Chapter 1077

When Zhukov finished, he beckoned me to his desk.

Seeing that I went to my desk, he took out a notebook, opened it, spread it on the desk, looked up and said to me, "Rita, now I'd like to introduce you to the basic situation of the 6th army."

When I heard that Zhukov was going to introduce the situation of the army to me, I immediately took out a pen and paper from my briefcase and prepared for the record.

"The sixth group army of the guards..." as soon as Zhukov opened his mouth, I was surprised. Isn't it the sixth group army of haridonov that turned into the sixth group army of the guards? Although both of them are army groups, there are huge differences in treatment.

I raised my hand to interrupt Zhukov's words behind. In his dissatisfied eyes, I asked cautiously, "marshal, please allow me to ask, don't you mean to let me go to the sixth group army where general haridonov once served as commander, how did I become the sixth group army of guards again?"

When Zhukov heard this, he turned his head and asked vasilevsky in amazement: "Comrade chief of general staff, didn't you tell Rita which group army she was going to serve as commander?"

Vasilevsky was surprised and said: "marshal, it's you who called Rita in person and asked her to come back to Moscow immediately. I thought you told her everything on the phone

Zhukov didn't speak. He turned his eyes to bzikov, who was going to meet me at the railway station. Bzikov jumped up from his seat, stood upright in front of Zhukov, and replied with no squint: "report to marshal, I thought Lida had learned from you about the army she was going to take office, so when I chatted with her on the road, I used the name of the 6th group army instead of emphasizing to her that it was the guards group army."

In the face of his own Wulong, Zhukov gave me a wry smile and said to me with some embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Rita. It's my fault that I didn't make it clear to you in time. Please forgive me!"

How can I afford to apologize to Zhukov in public? I waved my hand desperately and said, "marshal, it's not your fault. It's all my fault. When I was on the road, I didn't expect to check with colonel bezikov. Otherwise, there would be no such Oolong incident." When I said this, I couldn't help but secretly congratulated myself. Fortunately, I made it clear before I set out. Otherwise, I would be disgraced if I really went to the sixth group army to take office.

Zhukov then explained to me, "the sixth group army of the guards was reorganized and formed by the 21st group army. Soon after the outbreak of the war, the group army was established on the basis of the military region along the Volga River. It has jurisdiction over two infantry armies and a mechanized army, and has been successively incorporated into the Western Front Army, the central front army, the Bryansk front army, the southwest front army, the central front army, the central front army, the central front army, the central front army, the central front army, the southwest front army, the central front army, the central front army, the central front army Stalingrad front army and don front army. He has successively participated in the Smolensk war, Kiev defense campaign, North donetz River defense war, Kharkov battle and Stalingrad defense war, and is a heroic team that has made great achievements.

In April this year, the group army was reorganized into the sixth group army of the guards. Major general Danilov, the former commander of the group army, is now the deputy commander of the group army. He is an old commander with rich combat experience. I hope you can get along well with him after you go. If you have any questions, you can ask him. He will help you with all his strength. "

For Zhukov's advice, I naturally agreed: "don't worry, marshal. Although general Danilov is my deputy, I will respect his opinions in my daily work and will not be arbitrary."

Zhukov was very satisfied with what I said. He nodded and went on to say: "at present, within the establishment of the group army, there are 51st, 52nd, 67th and 71st divisions of the guard infantry, 326th and 375 divisions of the infantry, as well as two tank brigades, five artillery regiments, two heavy mortar artillery regiments and three guard rocket battalions."

When I heard that the number of artillery had increased again, I couldn't help but feel ecstatic, because as a result, the firepower output of the group army had been greatly enhanced, which was enough for the Germans to drink, whether it was defense or attack. When I finished recording what Zhukov said, I took advantage of his pause and asked, "marshal, I don't know how the weaponry of my army is?" I asked this because I was commanding the guards, and the equipment of the troops must be much better than that of other troops.

After hearing this, Zhukov 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. Now that you have asked about it, if I don't tell you, I guess you can't even sleep well tonight. " After turning the notebook on his desk for a few pages, he continued, "the Kalashnikov rifles you know can't meet the needs of all the troops, so your army is only equipped with three guard divisions. Ordinary infantry divisions, however, still use mosinlagan rifles and bobosha submachine guns, but they will also be gradually reloaded after August. "

"What about tanks?" As soon as Zhukov finished talking about the equipment of the infantry, I couldn't wait to ask.

"As for tanks, because there are still many technical problems to be solved, the latest tanks will not be able to be installed in the army in two years." After Zhukov said this, he added: "of course, the tank brigade has been refitted 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 such as the t-5455, I felt a lot more confident. But then I thought that in the battle of Kursk, the largest tank decisive battle in the history of war broke out. If the tank brigade did not have a unified command, it might be defeated by the German army in the battle. Thinking of this, I suggested to Zhukov, "marshal, I have an idea. In order to facilitate the command, can these two tank brigades be combined into one tank army and appoint a commander with combat experience to take charge of the command?"

After hearing my suggestion, Zhukov turned to look at vasilevsky next to him again. After a while of eye contact, Zhukov looked back at me and said, "we can merge two tank brigades into one tank army, but do you have a choice for a commander?"

"Yes, comrade marshal." I immediately gave Zhukov a positive answer.

"Who is it?" Asked Zhukov and vasilevsky in unison.

"Don't worry, Colonel." As soon as the two men's words came to an end, I said the candidate I had long considered in my heart: "before, he was the commander of the 84th tank brigade. He had participated in many battles and had rich combat experience. Later, in the battle outside zaborosh, he withdrew from the battle because of his injury. I think he is now discharged from the hospital and fully qualified for the post of commander. "

"You don't mind, comrade vasilevsky." After listening to my opinions, Zhukov did not state his position, but turned to ask vasilevsky. Seeing that the other party shook his head and expressed no objection, he said to me calmly, "well, since you recommend Colonel berey, then he will be the commander of the tank army." Seeing my happy face, he quickly added: "but I can't promote his rank until he achieves great success, that is to say, he can only be the commander with the rank of colonel."

"No problem, comrade marshal." When I think of the situation when the army was full of major, division, and captain commanders after the end of the purge, I feel that it is nothing to make Colonel berey a commander“ I don't believe that with colonel eberley's awareness, he will care about his rank. "

"Just don't care." Zhukov mumbled and said, "next, I'll give you a brief introduction to the leaders of each division, so that you can have a preliminary understanding of your subordinates."

"Major general tavartkilaze, the commander of the 51st division of the guard infantry, is an excellent commander with courage and fearless spirit. The troops he commands have made outstanding achievements in many local battles

The 52nd division of guards infantry was established in Voronezh in December 1941. Its original name was the motorized division of guards of the interior people's Committee. It consists of the 6th, 16th and 28th regiments of motorized infantry, the 10th regiment of grenade artillery and other auxiliary forces. The division commander is Col. Nekrasov

The 71st division of the guard infantry is a team with a glorious tradition. Its predecessor was the 1st Infantry Division of ustimedveditskaya, which was established in October 1918. The first and second regiments of medveditskaya revolutionary infantry and the third regiment of Bravin cavalry were originally organized. In the spring of 1918, these regiments fought against the Cossack white guards in Don river state. In the Great Patriotic War, the division excellently completed various combat tasks assigned by its superior. It showed bravery, tenacity and high degree of organization and discipline in the battle. In March this year, it was renamed the 71st division of close guard infantry. At present, there are 89th, 117th and 225th infantry regiments, 211 light artillery regiments, 226th grenade artillery regiments and other units under the command of Colonel sivakov

It took Zhukov ten minutes to tell me about the three guards and two infantry divisions. Just when I thought he had finished the introduction, vasilevsky, who was next to him, suddenly cut in and said, "Rita, I have another good news for you."

hot wire?! When I heard what vasilevsky said, I couldn't help looking at him and wondering, what news is more important than my becoming the commander of the sixth group army?

"In order to strengthen the strength of your group army, after discussing with Comrade Stalin this morning, we decided to give you another infantry division." Seeing that I was stunned, vasilevsky couldn't help smiling. He specially emphasized: "it's not an ordinary infantry division, it's a close guard division."

"I don't know which guard division it is?" When I heard that I would be given another guard division, I almost cried "Wula!" excitedly However, I still tried to stabilize my mood and asked vasilevsky with a smile: "Comrade chief of general staff, I don't know which close guard division you intend to assign to my group army?"

"The 77th division of Jinwei." Vasilevsky casually said the number of the army.

After I read the number of the division again, I felt that I had no impression at all, so I shook my head and said, "I'm sorry, chief of staff. I don't know about this division. Could you tell me something about it?"

Seeing that I really didn't know anything about this unit, vasilevsky patiently explained to me: "the 77th division of the guards was established in Moscow in July 1041. Its original name was the 21st division of the Moscow militia infantry. In September, it was renamed the 173rd division of the infantry. It consists of the 1311st, 1313rd and 1315th infantry regiments, the 979th artillery regiment and other units.

During the Moscow battle, they fought in the 33rd army formation of the reserve front army and for the first time fought against the German army southwest of Kirov, Kaluga. From the end of October to the beginning of December, within the formation of the 50th group army of the Western Front Army, they carried out arduous defensive battles in the regions of bereyov, veniov and Kashira. From 1941 to 1942, during the early stage of the counter offensive and the general offensive to the west, our army fought in the 49th and 50th group armies of the West. On December 9, 1941, together with the 322nd infantry division of the 10th group army, veniov was recovered. From the second half of April 1942, he held the occupied position. In August 1942, he changed his deployment to the southwest and successively took part in the glorious Stalingrad defense war in many groups of the Stalingrad front army. Because the officers and men of the whole division showed bravery, tenacity, determination and high degree of organization and discipline in the fight against the German army. Now, the names of the regiments have been adjusted. The division consists of the 215th, 217th and 219th regiments of the guard infantry, two artillery regiments and other units. The division commander is colonel askarepov. "“ Chief of the general staff, "as soon as vasilevsky finished, Zhukov reminded him," the division commander is not the colonel, but the major general. He was promoted in March. " After correcting wanvasilevsky's mistake, Zhukov said to me: "according to the original plan, the division should be incorporated into the 61st group army of the Bryansk front army. However, after repeated study by my colleagues in the headquarters and I, we found that the most likely area for the enemy to launch an attack is the Prokhorovka area within the jurisdiction of the Voronezh front army. Therefore, I temporarily decided to put the division under your command. " When Zhukov finished, he asked me without expression, "Rita, do you have any questions?" I quickly closed the notebook in my hand, my hands naturally drooped, straightened up, and answered loudly, "report to marshal, there is no problem."“ Since there is no problem, go back first. " Zhukov impolitely gave me an order of expulsion: "let Colonel bezikov cooperate with you, set up the guard regiment overnight, and rush to your headquarters early tomorrow morning."“ Yes I and bezikov answered in a loud, neat voice.