Chapter 5 3.at army headquarters

The 12th Army Headquarters was located in the forest west of Drogobech.The commanders of the leading organs of the group army stood in line beside a big tent.A deafening command came from the forest: "Stand at attention!" I saw a well-groomed general walking forward to meet Zhukov.He gave a report in a loud voice.This is Lieutenant General Filip Alexievich Palushinov, commander of the army group.Georgi Konstantinovich silently extended his hand to him and greeted the commanders in a low voice. "I've brought you reinforcements," he said to Palushinov, pointing to me.

"Your new Chief of Operations." The general looked me over from head to toe.We shook hands silently.He was a little taller than average, standing erect, with his handsome head of thick black hair thrown back proudly.There was something peculiarly refined about his whole appearance.Fair and clean face, two curved thin black eyebrows, a small protruding nose, and a small black beard combed with a brush...it looks chic and overly polite. I was told that Palushinov was a brilliant and experienced commander.But his not-so-high military theoretical literacy often put him in trouble.He joined the Red Army from the day it was founded, and gradually rose to the position of deputy commander of the infantry division. In 1938 he began to rise rapidly.Now he is the commander of the group army.

Zhukov was intrigued by the maneuver's attempt.Everyone walked into the tent covered with maps and maps.Zhukov initially listened to the army commander's report without interruption, but later raised objections.The cause of the dispute was the question of how many tanks and artillery should be deployed in the breakthrough area. The 1939 draft field regulations stipulated that at least 30 to 35 artillery pieces and 15 to 20 tanks should be concentrated in each kilometer of breakthrough area in the main assault direction.However, the combat experience of Spain and the Karelian Isthmus shows that this density is obviously not enough, and it needs to be at least doubled.Parusinov, on the other hand, did not want to agree with this opinion, arguing that this new density was imaginary and impossible to actually establish.He intends to attack according to the original regulations.

Zhukov calmly listened to his opponents and then easily and convincingly refuted all his arguments. "We should learn to fight an enemy that is smart and powerful. It cannot be subdued by shouting 'Ulla'." The commander of the military region requested a greater artillery and tank density in the breakthrough area.He also made other important comments on the organization of the exercise. After Zhukov left, General Arushanyan, Chief of Staff of the Army Group, came to me, held my hand tightly, and smiled cordially. "Come to me, Ivan Khristoforovitch. Let's talk."

I am an old acquaintance with Bagrat Isakovich.In the twenties I commanded the Leninakan Cavalry Regiment of the Armenian Infantry Division for a considerable period of time.At that time, Arushanyan was the principal of the regimental school of the division's 1st Infantry Regiment in Yerevan. Despite his youth, Bagrat was one of the most promising commanders. He rises very fast. Graduated from the Frunze Military Academy in 1936, he has commanded regiments and divisions successively, and made outstanding achievements in fighting in the Karelian Isthmus.Now he is the chief of staff of the most important border military region group army.He's a very capable, intelligent guy, and the rapid ascension didn't go to his head.

The small cellar the general took me to was damp and uncomfortable.Large drops of water fell from the ceiling from time to time.The general crumpled up a small piece of paper, wiped off the water on the table, pointed to a marching chair and said: "Please sit down." A young and well-groomed lieutenant walked gently into the bunker.Looks like he just graduated from military school.His quick-witted, flushed face expressed readiness to carry out any order, however difficult and dangerous, at once. "Vasya," the general pointed to the table, "try to find something."

The lieutenant's face suddenly became a little dark.He hesitated and replied: "Yes!" He walked out of the cellar unhurriedly. "Is the boy all right?" asked the general. "Yes, quite likable. Perhaps he would have made a not bad commander if he hadn't had the thankless job." "I disagree with you," Arushanyan retorted. "The names of many adjutants, like their chiefs, have been written into history in gold letters. Just think of Kutuzov's adjutant, Andrei Bolkonsky. He was a prince, a nobleman, but he didn't think Own errands are disrespectful."

"Oh, it would be comparable if Kutuzov gave him that sort of job." I couldn't help laughing. Bagrat Isakovich also laughed when he understood my hint. "What can I do?! I can't serve my own food. We don't have orderlies." I have since recalled this conversation more than once.We often reduce the orderlies on the grounds of "economy", so that their duties fall to the officers. . . . Several open cans and a bottle of brandy appeared on the table of the hospitable host. "Did I think that I would be promoted from captain to general so quickly in the academy? But look, by chance, I not only became a general, but also..." Arushanyan spread his hands and smiled kindly , "There is also an experienced commander like you as an assistant..."

"I am very satisfied to work under you." I said very sincerely. "If you are familiar with your chief, your work will be easier." Bagrat Isakovich talked about the people at the headquarters.His comments are not many, but comprehensive.It can be seen that he knows everything that his subordinates can do. A ringing telephone interrupted our conversation.The army commander asked the chief of staff to go. "It's time to break up." The general sighed.He called the adjutant: "Send the colonel to the combat department." A few minutes later, I was in a large crypt filled with tables.

I worry that inexperienced readers are not clear about the mission and status of the Operations Division in the Army Group Command.I would like to address this issue as broadly as possible. The Operations Department (called the Operations Department in the High Command) is the center for concentrating and researching information on the state and situation of our army, the enemy's situation, and the entire combat situation.From this information it prepares the operational-tactical calculations necessary for the commander to consider his determination.After the commander has made up his mind, the Operations Department will convey the determination to each corps in the form of combat orders or individual orders, and supervise its implementation.

The whole gigantic work was, of course, carried out in close coordination with the other branches of the headquarters and the headquarters and lead agencies of the various arms and service chiefs.Due to the particularly important role of the Operations Division, the Chief of Operations must concurrently serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff. In October 1940, it was handed over to the Operations Department of the 12th Army Headquarters under my leadership. It consisted of fifteen officers, namely the assistants and main assistants of the director.Many of them are still very young.After the outbreak of the Second World War, the Red Army developed so rapidly that even the High Command had to be replenished with yesterday's lieutenants.Only time and hard work can make them experienced combat staff. Today, a group of young people wearing the ranks of captains and captains are busy in front of the table covered with large topographic maps.One person marked the latest situation information on the map, another person wrote down the determination of the commander of the group army into a document, the third person wrote the routine battle report, and the fourth person was drafting orders, everyone was concentrating on doing their own business . Everyone stood up when they saw the unfamiliar colonel.An enthusiastic black-haired man sitting in a corner quickly walked towards me. He was about thirty years old, with a pair of eyes shining like two olives on his dark face, and looked at me attentively and inquiringly. "Captain Aivazov," he introduced himself, "acting chief of operations." I firmly hold the energetic captain's hand. "Colonel Baghramyan. Ordered to be your chief." "That's great!" he said happily. "We're exhausted if we don't come. Our commander has no mercy on us. It's hard enough to be reprimanded when we make a mistake." "Why, am I your lightning rod?" I smiled. "No, no," the captain was a little embarrassed, "but the colonel must feel more at ease." The captain introduced the officers to me one by one.I let them get on with their work while my deputy briefed me on the situation and what the Operations Division was up to.Aivazov gave a very detailed introduction using only pictures and no records, which made me familiar with the situation.He explained that the commander of the army group will make up his mind to attack tomorrow morning.Prior to this, he will listen to the advice of the command and the heads of the various arms and services.The Chief of Operations is usually expected to report a situational judgment and be prepared to make his own resolution recommendations. We prepared materials and were busy until late at night.I have become accustomed to all kinds of maneuvers, so things go smoothly.We even got some sleep.An hour before assembly, the attendant woke me up. I had hardly shaved, when at the entrance to the cellar where I dwelt came the lively voice of my clever second-in-command: "Good morning, Comrade Colonel! The marquee is ready for assembly, and the maps and charts for your report are hung. Comrades are beginning to assemble there. Let us go, or we will be late." The tent was already full of officers and generals from the leading organ of the group army.I followed Aivazov to the desk in the combat department.After opening the worksheet and reviewing the test preparation materials, I looked around.To my right sat a lanky-faced colonel.He is about forty years old.After he met my gaze, he smiled kindly, bowed, stretched out his hand, and introduced himself as Colonel Kaminsky, Chief of the Reconnaissance Division of the Army Group Headquarters. Later, I also worked with Aleksandr Ilyich Kaminsky in the most difficult days at the beginning of the war. He was born in a coachman's family in the lower reaches of the Volga River, and he loved horses very much since he was a child.This also drives us to get closer in a way.We could go on and on about the physique of horses, about the wonderful habits of these lovely and intelligent animals.Kaminsky is a veteran.He has been a member of the Red Army since its founding and joined the party at that time.His educational level is not high, he only graduated from a church-run elementary school.But he studied hard by himself and finished the second year of Frunze Military Academy by correspondence.At first he commanded the unit and became the commander of the infantry battalion.Then he graduated from special training courses and turned to reconnaissance work, in which his talents were particularly fully revealed.He is extremely intelligent and has a strong character. "Who's this guy behind us?" I asked a rather young, hazel-haired major. "Military training chief Koroton Sergey Yakovlevich. An exceptionally capable commander," said Aivazov. Sitting next to Kaminsky was a well-looking colonel past middle age. His resolute, pensive, absorbed countenance struck me as familiar. "Who is this?" "Our chief of armored tank troops." I glanced at the colonel.The distant past flashed in my memory like lightning.I saw this tough armored battalion commander of the 2nd Cavalry Independent Cavalry Brigade again...but is this him? "Is his surname Piskunov?" I asked the captain in a low voice. "Exactly, it's Piskunov Alexander Gavrilovich..." Yes, this is an old acquaintance of mine in Transcaucasia, a participant in the Civil War Sasha Piskunov.When I was a cavalryman in the twenties, I often met him in the drills and army-level exercises. I am very happy: besides Bagrat Arushanyan, among my future colleagues there is also an old comrade.I got up and walked towards Piskunov.A puzzled look appeared on his face, but it immediately changed to a broad smile.He held my hand tightly with both hands, and said a little bewilderedly: "Oh! Good fellow!" Everyone looked at us in amazement. Before we had time to talk, there was a loud voice of password.Everyone stood up.Palushinov, commander of the group army, Zelenkov, member of the military committee of the group army and political commissar of the division, and General Arushanyan, chief of staff, walked into the tent. -------- ① All Soviet army groups and above have military committees. This is a collective leadership organization. At first, there were only three members, namely the commander or commander-in-chief (chairman) and two political workers. They were the members of the military committee mentioned here. At that time Often served by local party leaders. Since 1958, this post has been combined with the director of the Political Department (held by soldiers), and the first deputy commander-in-chief (commander) and the chief of staff have been added as members. ——Translator's Note. The commander carefully looked at the people present, and his eyes fell on my neighbor. "Well, let's start with reconnaissance. Colonel Kaminsky, please give a brief report on the enemy's situation." Kaminsky walked unhurriedly to the front of the map, picked up the pointer, turned to the commander, and began to briefly and clearly introduce the enemy's defense and weapons, as well as the reserve team that might be transferred to the breakthrough area.The colonel emphasized that the enemy had organized a strong prepared defense.It is not easy to break through this kind of defense, and there is still a big river obstacle on the way forward for our army.This information about the enemy's defenses was still very imprecise.Information about the enemy's shallow reserves must also be further clarified. Palushinov showed dissatisfaction: "That's right, our reconnaissance is a bit lacking. How can we make up our minds based on incomplete information! Besides, you're scaring people. If you believe me, the enemy's defenses won't be able to break through at all... Well, Now—" the commander glanced at me, "let's listen to what the Chief of Operations reports to us." I have tried to judge concisely the situation in the offensive zone, pointing out the difficulties that may arise in forcing the river.And according to each stage of the campaign, the offensive and defensive forces were compared.Our army's numerical advantage in the main assault direction is obviously insufficient.Therefore, I propose to carry out a breakthrough on a narrow front, and to create an advantage of nearly three times the enemy's strength there. "I cannot agree with your proposal, Colonel," said the commander, standing up.His fingers tapped nervously on the table. "If we carry out the main assault in a narrow area, we will not lose much of the enemy's force. We should try to inflict the greatest losses on the enemy after the first assault." I tried to justify my argument, but to no avail.After the heads of various arms and services reported, the chief of staff made a speech.He supported the Operations Branch's recommendation that as many forces as possible must be concentrated in the breakthrough sector.Palushinov listened silently, without rebuttal.When he announced his determination, we found that the breakthrough area was much wider than what we, the combat staff and the chief of staff, had suggested.Here you can only achieve at most one and a half times the advantage over the enemy. The exercise lasted for several days.Despite some missteps by the director and executives, the exercise was intense and rewarding. The commander of the military region participated in the exercise commentary.Overall, his assessment of the exercise was positive.But as expected, he criticized base resolve for being too wide in the breakaway lot.