Chapter 4 2.tasks assigned by the commander

The next day, I arrived at Chkalov Street in Kyiv, where the headquarters of the Military District is located. A young commander with three red rectangles on his lapel pins gleaming received me. "First-level Battalion Political Commissar ① Sergeyev." He introduced himself, emphasizing the word "first-level". -------- ① At that time, the military ranks of the political staff below the political commissar level of the Soviet Army were divided into: regiment political commissar level, first-level battalion political commissar level, second-battalion political commissar level, captain political instructor level, captain political instructor level, and lieutenant political instructor level, respectively equivalent to command Colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, captain, lieutenant of personnel. ——Translator's Note.

② A famous German philosopher (1775-1854). ——Translator's Note. The cadre minister was not more than thirty-five years old at the time, and looked younger. But he had learned the arrogant bureaucracy and the arrogance characteristic of some veteran cadres. "The commander has spoken to me about you. Go through the formalities first. Call me at eleven o'clock tomorrow. I will let you know when the commander can see you." I said goodbye to Sergeyev and went to the guest house.Walked around the city for a long time in the evening.It's not my first time in Kyiv.But every time I come, I am amazed by the beautiful buildings and streets surrounded by greenery.These streets are like layers of picturesque stairs, descending from the hills to the vast, rushing Dnieper River, which is always shrouded in silver mist.Schelling ② has asserted that architecture is silent music.You will be amazed at the perfection of Kyiv as you admire the varied architectural style of Kiev, which has absorbed the inspiration of architects of many centuries.Monuments and new buildings harmoniously blend together.Despite the interweaving of various architectural styles, Kyiv has managed to maintain its own national identity.Walking through the streets, you can't help but imagine: the dead stone is about to come to life, and it's about to hear the touching Ukrainian song.

That night, my heart was ups and downs, and I couldn't fall asleep for a long time, so I woke up later than usual.Besides, there was nowhere to go, and there was nothing to do before eleven o'clock anyway.But just as I was about to wash my face, a Red Army soldier knocked on the door out of breath: "Comrade Colonel, the first-level battalion political commissar has ordered you to report, and the commander wants you to see him immediately." Sergeyev was already waiting impatiently for me at the entrance to the headquarters. "Let's go, I'll wait for you."

I have been to this spacious office many times before, so I am already familiar with it.The commander was sitting at the table and writing comments on a document with a pen.There is a folder next to it, and there are several documents waiting for approval.When Zhukov saw me, he threw the pencil on the table.The serious face softened to a smile.He stood up and held out his hand: "Hello, Ivan Khristoforovitch. We have not seen each other for a long time." I am reminded again of the Leningrad Higher Cavalry School.Those who studied in our class at that time were A. A. Yelyomenko, B. C. Zhukov, H. D. Mishuk, C. C. Rokossovsky, E. D. Romanenko, F. A. Savelyev, B. A. Chistyakov.These people have different personalities and temperaments.But they were all already tried and tested, strong-willed, decisive in thought and action commanders.

None of us was under thirty at that time.We are young and strong (cavalry is characterized by great physical exercise), whether it is studying or horse racing, we try our best to surpass others. Among us, the most stubborn seemed to be Andrei Ivanovich Yeremenko.He acquired, by rare effort, the breadth and richness of knowledge prescribed by the syllabus.He had this tenacious and indomitable spirit throughout his life, and it was particularly vividly displayed in the Great Patriotic War. -------- ① Yelymenko (1892-1970), Marshal of the Soviet Union (1955), was the commander of the front army during the Great Patriotic War and the commander of the military region after the war. ——Translator's Note.

② Rokossovsky (1896-1968), Marshal of the Soviet Union (1949).During the Great Patriotic War, he commanded several front armies. From 1949 to 1956, he served as Vice Chairman of the Polish Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense.After returning to the Soviet Union, he served as the Deputy Minister of Defense and other posts. ——Translator's Note. Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov was considered one of the most talented students in our class.At the time he stood out not only because of his apparent strong-willed character, but also because of the peculiar novelty of his thinking.In the cavalry tactics class, Zhukov surprised us more than once with an unexpected speech.His determination always invites the most heated arguments, but he generally holds his own with great logic.

Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, who was refined and very polite, had endeared him to the whole class.His symmetry of figure, good looks, his noble and sympathetic character, his athletic qualities (without which a cavalryman would not be a cavalryman) endeared him to his comrades.Among us cavalry who are passionate about cavalry and archery, he is rightly considered the most experienced cavalry and a shrewd expert in cavalry tactics. All the students in our class get along very well.Studying is intense, and a competitive spirit helps.The revolutionary atmosphere that prevailed over Leningrad, the cradle of the proletarian revolution, had a favorable influence on us.We hungrily participated in the social and cultural life of Leningrad.Its revolutionary tradition, which has accumulated a rich cultural heritage over the centuries, has left a deep imprint on our memory and made us even more proud of our great motherland.

At the end of the intense summer field training, we rode the two hundred kilometers between Novgorod and Leningrad, conducted the last large-scale confrontation with the military director, and then went our separate ways.Fifteen years have passed since then, and I can only learn about the plight of my classmates based on intermittent hearsay.Only Zhukov can show himself, as the saying goes.Today, his collar badge is no longer three stripes, but five shining stars of a general, and he wears the Hero of the Soviet Union "Gold Star" medal on his chest.Our former classmates have gone far to the front.

His accomplishments don't surprise me. B.C. Zhukov not only has outstanding military talent and superb intelligence, but also has a will of steel.If he wants to do something, he always goes ahead and does it. Externally, Georgi Konstantinovich has not changed much.It's just that his short and strong figure is slightly fatter, the soft wavy hair is slightly thinner, and the outline of his face has become more sharp and severe. The meeting with former classmates started in a calm and humble atmosphere.I acted in accordance with the requirements of the regulations and behaved primly.I thank the commander for answering my request so quickly.He frowned and waved his hand: "Okay, see what you said. I did this not only for you, but also for the benefit of work. Our army now desperately needs not only good training in various arms contracts, but also good combat training." Commander. I think my choice is not wrong."

The solemn atmosphere of the meeting disappeared.Both were suddenly intoxicated with memories of Leningrad and our youth, and commented on former classmates with beautiful words.Finally the topic turned to work again.I asked the commander to allow me to go to the new work place - the 12th Army Command. "Hey, no".Zhukov demurred. "We have to wait. A meeting of the People's Commissariat of National Defense and the leaders of the military regions will be held in December. There are many people participating in this meeting. From the perspective of tasks, the meeting is very important."

He was silent for a while, then said: "We have heard that Stalin will personally attend the meeting. The chief of the general staff will give the main report on the summary of combat and campaign training for the past year. The chief of infantry, the chief of military training, the chief of the automobile, armored tanks, and the chief of artillery will make supplementary reports. The commanders of several military districts The members will speak on the law and tactics of the campaign. The report I am going to give will be on the main issues and will be called "On the Nature of Modern Offensive Campaigns". Also worked as a teacher... I suppose you brought the results of the academy's research with you?" "Here it is, Comrade Commander." "Okay," Zhukov said excitedly, "help me draft the report." And so Georgi Konstantinovich began to expound his views with gusto.He believes that everything should be based on consideration of realistic possibilities.The German victories in the West, based on the intensive use of tanks, motorized troops, and aviation, forced many questions.It is a pity that we do not yet have such a large mechanized battle corps①.Our mechanized army is still in the formation stage.And war could break out at any minute.We cannot formulate our own combat plan based on the conditions that we will have in one and a half to two years.We should count on the strength that our frontier military districts have today... -------- ①The Soviet army called the group army (district fleet) the campaign corps; the front army (group army, fleet, air force) was called the campaign strategy corps, and the army was called the campaign tactical corps (or advanced tactical corps). ——Translator's Note. "Let's think about it together. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me. You can ask any staff officer from the Operations Department of the Military Region Command to help you. Start working tomorrow." "Tomorrow is Sunday..." "What can we do! Sunday is not for us, but we are for Sunday," Zhukov joked. After taking my leave of the Commander, I went to the Chief of Staff of the Military District, Lieutenant-General Maxim Alexeyevich Pulkayev.I had not seen him before, but I heard he was an able and learned general.He is fluent in German and French.I just came back from Germany as a military attache not long ago.I also know some details of his life.He was born in a worker's family in the former Simbirsk province, the Mordovan family.Graduated from real science middle school②.At that time, this was rare luck for a young man from a working family. In 1915 he entered the Warrant Officer School, became an officer after graduation, and was sent directly to the front.He immediately defected to the Bolsheviks during the October Revolution, volunteered for the Red Army, and joined the party in 1919.Commanded a regiment in the battle against Kolchak, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.Purkayev's rise was not too rapid, but he had already headed the Moscow Military District Command in 1931.Colleagues think he is a little cold, but everyone respects him because of his steady personality and profound knowledge.He was rightly regarded as a connoisseur of the work of the command, particularly in army service and mobilization. -------- ①Pulkayev (1894-1953), General of the Soviet Army (1944). In 1945, when the Soviet Army sent troops to Northeast my country, he was the commander of the Second Far East Front Army. ——Translator's Note. ② An ordinary middle school in Russia before the October Revolution.This kind of secondary school does not teach ancient languages ​​(Latin and Greek), only modern languages, and focuses on natural science education. ——Translator's Note. General Pulkayev was short in stature, but well-built and looked a little older for his age.He had a large head with thick black hair, a resolute face with prominent cheekbones, and large dark brown eyes that gazed sternly at his interlocutor through the thick lenses of his pince-nez. He greeted me calmly and quietly.The conversation seemed very formal.After I introduced myself and reported to him that I had received the assignment from Zhukov, Purkayev called Major General Rubtsov and asked him to consider which staff officers could be brought in to assist me, and to send me a call immediately in the War Department. Provide necessary working conditions. Rubtsov quickly hugged me tightly and friendly.He immediately expressed his concern about my accommodation, ordered me to be allocated a studio, and issued me a long-term pass to the military district headquarters. I set to work without delay.Lieutenant Colonel B. B. Ivanov, a graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff and an experienced cavalryman who went to the military region for an internship, helped me a lot. I lived a single life, working from dawn to dusk as the saying goes.Ivanov and I were quickly up to the task.The commander who put a lot of effort into the report is very satisfied with our diligence. At the end of September, Georgi Konstantinovich, who made final corrections and additions, handed over the material to me, saying: "After printing, you should check it carefully. In addition, you have to get ready to get up. In three days, the 12th Army will start to hold the chief command exercise. I want to go there. You come with me. I will introduce you to Army commander, you can familiarize yourself with the headquarters you will be working in during the exercise."