Chapter 31 2.retreat is different from retreat

Marshal Timoshenko became increasingly disturbed by the situation on the right wing of the front.Communications with our northern neighbor have been cut off.General Pokrovski told me to contact the General Staff immediately and try to get the necessary information there. On the evening of October 6, I finally called General M. H. Sarohim, Deputy Chief of Operations.But he said that even the General Staff had very little information on the situation of the Bryansk Front.We only know one thing, that is, the enemy has reached the approach of Orel. The threat of the fascists' far-reaching detour to the right wing of the Southwest Front Forced Marshal Timoshenko to ask the headquarters for permission to withdraw our 40th and 21st Army Groups to the lines of Suja, Sumy, Akhturka, Koteleva, and Kolontayev.

Headquarters attempted to take advantage of the favorable situation held by the 40th Army against the enemy pursuing the Bryansk Front before authorizing the retreat.Marshal Shaposhnikov suggested that C. C. Timoshenko use the strength of this army group to carry out a surprise attack to the north.However, after analyzing the situation, Semyon Konstantinovich pointed out that this cannot be done, because the strength of the 40th Army is now barely enough to stop the enemy's onslaught from the west. The commander's authority is very useful.Headquarters immediately agreed with Marshal Timoshenko's arguments.The 40th and 21st armies on my right wing received orders to retreat.According to the instructions of the commander of the front army, they should complete this maneuver in three night trips.

At this time, the 38th and 6th Army ① should stick to the occupied area. -------- ①According to the decision of the headquarters, the 6th Army was transferred from the Southern Front to the Southwest Front. After the enemy discovered that our army was retreating, they stepped up their attacks.Its main assault points to the junction of the two armies.The 227th Infantry Division of the 40th Army was in trouble.At first, it carried out a powerful assault on the enemy wedge force on its own.The heads of the regiments expected that the Fascists would stop advancing after heavy losses and would, as the saying goes, "let go of the reins".However, self-comfort will never lead to good results. On the night of October 9, the fascists suddenly launched a violent assault on the battalions of the 777th Infantry Regiment, which had retreated without hesitation.The regimental commander lost command.The battalions that were hit fought very tenaciously.But they are fighting each other without coordination.

The bravery and resourcefulness of the artillerymen of the 595th Artillery Regiment saved the division.They quickly deployed their artillery and fired heavily at the intruding Hitlerites.This disorganizes the enemy's battalion and enables the division commander to organize his troops for an organized retreat. The development of the war in the 21st Army was relatively calm.When the enemy launched an assault on the 1st Guards Infantry Division here, the commander of the group army used the 1st Tank Brigade to carry out a resolute counterattack, and quickly transferred the troops of the 297th Infantry Division here to stop the enemy and ensure that the army was able to move forward. Organized retreat in designated areas.

The enemy also continued to attack the defensive areas of other armies of the Front.The troops of the 38th Army (now under the command of Major General Viktor Viktorovich Tsyganov) fought fiercely southwest of Bogodukhov. We are increasingly worried about our own left.Major General P. F. Malinowski, commander of the 6th Army (which was incorporated into our Front), reported that he had no correspondence with his neighbors and that his flank was being turned by the enemy. -------- ① Malinovsky (1898-1967), later Marshal of the Soviet Union (1944) and Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union (1957-1967). ——Translator's Note.

At this time, the 18th and 9th Army Groups of the Southern Front under the command of General F.T. Cherevichenko were fighting in the enemy's encirclement.Kleist's tanks and motorized troops have entered the vicinity of Taganrog.Then there was the real threat of their sudden rush to Rostov-on-Don.For this reason, the base camp began to use the troops of the North Caucasus Military District to hastily form the independent 56th Army. The task entrusted to it was to hold Rostov no matter what and close the gate of the Caucasus. And we will withdraw the Malinovsky Army. The front's half-replenishment army, exhausted again by a series of exhausting battles, was now stretched out in a great arc, its wings folded to the east.But even more disturbing than the situation of our front in those days was the fate of Moscow.Hitler's bandits have broken into the capital far and near.Persevere, attract as many enemy troops as possible to support the defenders of Moscow - we all believed in that at the time.We are short of men, we are short of weapons.But we understand that major force weapons are now needed near Moscow, so we do not insist on fulfilling our application. On October 15, the Military Committee of the Front Army made a decision on collecting captured weapons and distributing them uniformly among the various armies.A training course for trainers on seized weapons was held.Later, this measure served no small purpose until the industry I had evacuated to the east was deployed in the rear and secured all the army's needs for arms and ammunition.Due to the shortage of anti-tank artillery, the problem of maximizing the production of incendiary bottles was also studied.

At a military council meeting, a general I didn't know was present. I asked Parshegov who this man was. "From Moscow, surnamed Bokin." Where have I heard this surname?Come to think of it: Bokin was chief of staff of the 9th Army.People have talked about his many strengths - he is smart, knowledgeable and energetic.Towards the end of the meeting, Timoshenko introduced him: Pavel Ivanovich Bokin, the new chief of staff of the Front. Half an hour later, I reported the situation on the front to Borgin.He is an ideal conversationalist.He will listen to you intently, without interrupting, while gazing at you with wide-open, slightly startled sky-blue eyes, and when the time is right, he will ask again, to clarify a detail, to offer an opinion .When Borgin himself spoke, he always calmed down, lowered his voice a little, and slowed down a little.He expresses himself concisely and clearly.I like his straightforward, lively personality and ability to quickly grasp the essence of the problem.

After Bojin has figured out the situation, let me introduce him to everyone.We visited almost all the ministries, and Pavel Ivanovich talked to the comrades to understand their moods and needs.On the same day, he invited the leaders of the headquarters to him and talked about the issue of covert command. "I ask you to supervise this matter with the strictest supervision".He said to J. M. Dobekin, who was re-leading the Signal Corps of the Front Army. Dmitry Mikhailovich said: We are paying special attention to this matter. Borgin smiled. "But you have also noticed this telegram." He took a piece of paper from the folder and read: "'The village Soviet re-established in Borisovka was bombed. There is no anti-aircraft weapons. Please send one. A battalion of anti-aircraft artillery and a company of machine guns.'" The chief of staff gave Dobekin a reproachful look: "Don't take the enemy for fools. Any corporal in the German army can guess what kind of 'village Soviet' the telegram writer is concerned about. "

Everyone was embarrassed and said nothing, because everyone has this problem.We are poorly trained in covert command of the military.In peacetime, it is often enough to conduct a few specialized courses.As for the headquarters exercise, the entire notification was written in plain language.Everyone thinks, "Come on, everything is going to be done differently in war." People forget that it takes knowledge and skill to do it.So, now this happens: some of our comrades call people "pencils" and tanks "boxes" in their reports, and he really believes that the enemy can't guess what they are talking about.

At around seven o'clock in the evening, I went to Bo Jin's place again - to send a regular combat report to him for signature.He carefully reviewed the bulletin, praised the drafters, and very tactfully mentioned a few places he didn't like.I later became convinced that when Bokin dealt with a problem, he didn't have to ask for any opinion, even the most insignificant one, twice. An hour later the chief of staff called me in and gave the order: "You immediately draft a general retreat order for each group army." He handed me a document.I browsed through it quickly and was stunned.

"... Order from the Headquarters of the Supreme Command: From October 17th, the Southwest Front began to attack Kastornaya, Stary Oskol, Novy Oskol, Valujki, Kupyansk, Redman The front line retreats; the retreat will be completed before October 30..." That is to say, our front army must not only retreat 80 to 200 kilometers, but also abandon the Kharkov, Belgorod, and Donetsk industrial areas. I can't calm down.What was it that compelled Base Camp to make such a difficult resolution?I will not forget that, just a month ago, our front was in a more difficult situation than it is now, and the headquarters firmly forbade the withdrawal of the army by roughly the same distance.But now the head of the front army has not requested to do so, and the situation of the front army is much more stable than in mid-September, but he has issued an order to retreat.I couldn't help expressing my surprise to Borgin.Pavel Ivanovitch was striding about the room and said thoughtfully: "You probably have this experience yourself: you can only see a part of the battle from the bunker; as soon as you climb to the small high ground, your field of vision will expand, and you will be able to see scenes that you have never even thought about before. The closer the observation point High, the farther you see. That's how it is. You and I don't know much. And in Moscow, people don't just see us as a front army. There they will see Kleist rushing to Taganrog, To see the threat to Rostov again, and to see that countless enemy troops are approaching Moscow and Leningrad. In September, most strategic directions are relatively calm, and the base camp can take the risk of deploying reserves to defend Dni from other directions The Bo River and Kiev. And now, the enemy has hit the border of Moscow and the gate of the Caucasus. Not only is it impossible for the base camp to help us, but it will require us to allocate part of our troops to it. And our front has become A huge arc, it is becoming more and more difficult to block the enemy. What if the fascists once again transferred the tanks of Guderian and Kleist to the rear of our front? We will not have the strength to improve the situation ...that's why Moscow can't take risks right now, and therefore withdraw our troops." We marked the middle area, the retreat direction and zone of each group army on the big map for a while.After marking the picture, Bo Jin said: "You see, the strategic situation of our campaign is much more favorable: we can put a large number of troops in reserve, re-establish close ties with our friendly fronts, and can better help the troops fighting close to Moscow, because they are retreating eastward. After that, our defense area moved northward greatly..." Starting tomorrow, the Southern Front will be reassigned to Field Marshal Timoshenko, Bokin said.Now the headquarters of our front army will at the same time be the headquarters of the entire southwestern army.We also have to consider our neighbors—the Southern Front. There was about one and a half days and nights left until the retreat began.All the work of organizing a large number of troops to carry out this complex maneuver must be done in such a short period of time.I have already said that whoever thinks it is easy to withdraw is very mistaken.If this maneuver is not thoughtfully treated, an army can suffer far more disasters than in a poorly organized attack.If the organization and security of the retreat are not taken seriously, the retreat is precisely the time when sudden panic and confusion are most likely to occur.Therefore, after receiving the order to retreat, all the commanders of the headquarters of the front army and the leading organs no longer divided day and night into day and night.Work demands our best efforts. At 22:00 on October 15, the Military Committee of the Front Army held a meeting.The commanders and heads of the various arms and services, as well as the ministers of the main departments of the Front Army Command attended the meeting.General Bojin read out the instructions of the base camp and briefly judged the strategic situation of the campaign. He paid special attention to the situation of his neighbors and made some suggestions. Marshal Timoshenko spoke of his determination succinctly as usual.He named the main intermediate areas that the front army should hold within the strictly stipulated time. The armies should arrive at the first intermediate area in the early morning of October 23, passing through the cities of Belgorod, Zmiyev, Balakleya, and Barvinkovo.During the retreat, the 2nd and 5th Cavalry Corps and a tank brigade served as the front's rapid reserve.They also pointed out the direction of retreat and the concentration area. Before 10 o'clock on October 18, the headquarters of the front army should stay in Kharkov.It was then transferred to the city of Valujki, leaving auxiliary command posts in Oboyan and Chuguyev. Semyon Konstantinovich pointed out that we must draw at least six infantry divisions and two cavalry corps into the reserve by the end of October by shortening the front.In addition, the 216th Infantry Division was hastily formed in Kharkov, which would become the backbone of the city's garrison.There are also two infantry divisions (62nd, 253rd Infantry) and two reserve cavalry regiments are being formed.The 3rd Airborne Corps will be reorganized into the 87th Infantry Division. When we had all the instructions, we proceeded to draw up a plan for the retreat of the army and prepare the army for a new maneuver.I entrusted the deputy ministers to draw up a plan for the army's movement throughout the depth, and I myself drew up the retreat order for the front army.At around twelve o'clock at night, I finished the draft document and handed it over to the Chief of Staff.By one o'clock the order had been signed and sent by wire to the armies without delay.In the morning, the various officer groups of the front army organization flew to the army separately.Before departure, Bo Jin invited them there, gave detailed instructions, and especially asked them to pay attention to the concealment of army command. We are also watching with concern the fighting in the southern front sector now incorporated into our direction. At noon on October 16, disturbing news came from there: the Kleist Tank Army had forcibly crossed the Mius River and was advancing towards Rostov.Marshal Timoshenko asked General Cherevichenko, the commander of the Southern Front, to take all measures to stop the Hitlerites, and informed him that a tank brigade was being transferred from the Southwestern Front to his command. ...The time for our headquarters to move to new territories is approaching.Parts of the Military Council and the leadership of the Front were first transferred to Chuguyev, while the rest immediately went to Valuiki. I had to reach Chuguyev a little earlier than the main column in order to give command of the army and meet the commander of the front. In the early morning of October 18, I got in my car and set off in a hurry. The staff officers of our department, Sarakucha and Dorokhov, were already waiting for me in the car. As the car drove through the streets of Kharkov, I watched with great gloom at its beautiful buildings and world-famous industrial enterprises, which were sombre and silent, as if they no longer existed.The chimneys of the factory stopped smoking, and there was a dead silence inside the gate.The city's party and soviet organization was well done: everything that could be moved was removed. It was the first time I saw our big industrial city that was about to be abandoned.I know exactly the date when the fascist clone rolled across the streets of Kharkov.This sight will probably happen on October 25.I think of this with a heavy heart. I can easily imagine how many hesitations and difficult times the Supreme Commander had to endure before ordering the abandonment of Donbass and cities like Kharkov and Belgorod. No wonder our Commander-in-Chief, C. C. Timoshenko, is also looking sad right now.He agonizes over having to give up our country's most important economic region, even though he realizes it has to be done. ... We have passed the southeastern outskirts of Kharkov and embarked on the road that winds like an endless snake in the direction of Chuguyev.Vehicles loaded with soldiers and military supplies continue to drive on the road.Our driver, Starzhinski, is skilled, but he drives as slowly as he walks. We arrived at Chuguyev about nine o'clock in the morning.We immediately wanted to contact the various army headquarters.But it's not easy.The 6th and 40th Army Groups on the same flank were quickly contacted, but the headquarters of the 21st and 38th Army Groups in the center were not found on the radio until two hours later.The retreat was carried out under difficult conditions, and the Hitlerites stormed with heavy troops, trying to assault the junction.But all the enemy's attempts were successfully shattered. Soon, the military council arrived. After listening to my report, C. C. Timoshenko issued a series of more specific orders to the armies.In the evening, the marshal left a commander group led by his deputy commander, General Kostenko, in Chuguyev, and flew to the basic command post in Valuiki.We go with him. The new command post is fully deployed.Correspondence should be more or less normal.Marshal Timoshenko almost never left the institution, and had been on the phone with the commanders of the various armies.After he was sure that the retreat of the various armies of the Southwest Front had no special troubles, he watched the actions of our southern neighbors with special attention.From time to time, the marshal called General Cherevichenko, the commander of the Southern Front, and Lieutenant General Remezov, the commander of the independent 56th Army who cooperated with him, to the telegraph to talk.Cherevichenko reported that the 12th and 18th armies retreated strictly according to plan without any trouble.The situation on the southern flank of the Front was worse. On October 17, Kleist's army advanced in the Ninth Army area and captured Taganrog.The 136th Infantry Division was hastily transferred here from the 18th Army. Marshal Timoshenko reminded the commander of the front army that once Taganrog was lost, the enemy would be in danger of moving forward to the rear of our army.In order to prevent this from happening, he ordered that the combat formation of the 9th Army be immediately reinforced with anti-tank weapons and that it coordinate with the independent 56th Army defending Rostov.The Marshal promised to transfer another tank brigade from the Southwest Front to support the Ninth Army. The enemy rushed irresistibly towards Rostov.Marshal Timoshenko asked us to report in detail on the forces defending the city.We quickly collected this information.The independent 56th Army has just been formed by the troops of the North Caucasus Military District.Before October 17, its two infantry divisions and one cavalry division occupied the rear of the Ninth Army, that is, the residential areas of Gneraliskoye and Sinyavka 25 kilometers west of Rostov defense area. Incorporated into the Rostov city garrison are the Rostov Artillery School, the Military District Party and Government Workers Training Course, the Political School, the 230th Cavalry Regiment, the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, the Rostov Communist Regiment and the Militia Regiment, a total of six One thousand three hundred and ninety-two people.Outside the city, under the command of the army commander are the 64th Cavalry Division, the Armored Train Battalion, the Sevastopol Naval Academy and a squadron of the Azov Sea Fleet.There are no tanks. Once the Kleist Tank Army rushed to Rostov, it was obviously not enough to stop it with this force.Moreover, the preparations for city defense were extremely slow.Construction of the fortifications was delayed due to lack of labor. Headquarters was well aware of the weakness of the defense in the direction of Rostov.In accordance with its orders, three infantry divisions, one cavalry division and two detachments of the military academy were transferred from Krasnodar to reinforce the army of Lieutenant General G. H. Remezov.At the insistence of the headquarters, at the end of October defensive operations were intensified near Rostov and in the city, with the extensive participation of the local population. ... If we say that the enemy temporarily holds the initiative on the southern front and we can only hope for a stable situation, then on the southwestern front, we have been able to effectively control and influence the course of the war in the second half of October. On the evening of October 20, even Marshal Timoshenko, who could not tolerate blind optimism and self-comfort, listened to Bokin's report with satisfaction.Regardless of the enemy's desperate interception, the army is retreating strictly according to the plan.Bogin emphasized that the intentions of the Fascist High Command are now clear, that is, in three directions: from Sumy to Belgorod, from Bogodukhov to Kharkov, from Lozovaya to Barvinko Wo, divide the Southwest Front Army.But all its plans are being stubbornly attacked by various corps of our army. The retreat went unevenly.The right-wing 40th Army remained tens of kilometers west of the rest of the army.This was done on purpose, because the left-wing corps of the neighboring Bryansk Front fell behind.Therefore, the headquarters asked us to delay the retreat of the 40th Army until the left-wing corps of the Bryansk Front retreated to level with it.As a result, the 40th Army stopped to hold on to this area. Marshal Timoshenko was only dissatisfied with one point, that is, the army's retreat was too one-line: most armies of the front army organized their forces and weapons into one echelon, and did not shrink their forces and weapons in the main direction, nor did they allocate a strong reserve force.He looked at the map carefully and asked: "Why did Goldov spread all his divisions along the front? Put me through his phone immediately." A few minutes later, he was already speaking into the microphone: "Greetings, Comrade Gordov! I get the impression that your divisions are scattered... This not only hinders their command, but also makes the army passive. And we must try to give the enemy a break when we retreat. cause maximum damage." "Comrade Commander-in-Chief," Gordorff argued, "the enemy is always trying to outflank our divisions and drive into their joints, so we have to throw troops here and there." "But you didn't realize that placing your troops in a line is equivalent to hiding flying stones behind glass partitions. You must know that the enemy can easily tear this line at any point and walk behind you. But you There are not enough reserves to prevent it from doing this. If you did not disperse your forces, but formed some strong shock groups, the situation would be completely different. Then if the enemy tries to wedge your army disposition, you can Give it a solid beating." I should point out that Marshal Timoshenko was always concerned with creating front reserves large enough to deploy them wherever the enemy might strike.In doing so, not only can the enemy's impact be repelled in time, but also our army's strength can be preserved.After the divisions and armies are incorporated into the reserves, they can replenish personnel, weapons and equipment, and take a short rest in order to re-enter the battle with fresh troops. "I ask permission for my army not to hold out in the middle area," said the army commander. "That way we can buy time and get rid of the enemy so we can better organize the defense in the next area." "No," replied the Commander-in-Chief. "The center must be held. Otherwise, you will endanger the Poderas Army. This army will now have to wait for the Bryansk Front to retreat." When I heard this talk, I couldn't help comparing our situation with the summer wars. The Fascist High Command tried its best to cut the front of our retreating army with its usual pincer offensive tactics, cut it off and consume it bit by bit.But what the enemy was sometimes able to do in the first weeks of the war, he could not do now.The painful lesson has paid off.We gain experience.The core of almost all corps of our army is now composed of commanders and fighters with rich combat experience.At all levels, first of all, the military skills of the commanders at the operational level have been significantly improved.Our Chief of Staff has been able to better maneuver reserves.Although the conditions for the material security of the army are worse, the party and the government use all resources most effectively to maintain the combat effectiveness of the army. By no means do I want the reader to believe that the retreat of our troops is going very well.You must know what a huge force this is, and in what a vast space, it is moving under the unrelenting pressure of the fascist bandit army!What we were able to see in October 1941 could not even be compared with what we witnessed when our troops retreated from the border to the Dnieper.At that time, all we did was to rescue the encircled regiments and divisions, and tried every means to infiltrate from the pinch after attack.This phenomenon no longer exists.The various armies maintained close coordination as they retreated.If one of the armies is in trouble, the neighbors will slow down their retreat to support it.Sometimes the fascists can also break into certain directions, but they will die there very quickly. This happened on October 21.The 38th Army reported that two heavy fascist groups tried to detour Kharkov from both sides, and passed through the middle of our rear guard, and seized the cities of Derkach and Meriefa, which covered Kharkov's approach.The commander-in-chief immediately transferred a considerable force of the air force of the front army here, and ordered the commander of the group army to drive the enemy out of the occupied settlements.The 28th Army carried out the order.It wiped out the enemies in the two cities with a determined blow.The Hitlerites entrenched in masonry buildings were burned to pieces by flamethrowers.This cooled the enthusiasm of the fascists, who no longer dared to seize Kharkov, which was flanked. In those days we were once again convinced of the importance of observing Suvorov's law that every soldier should know his own maneuvers.I don't know whether it was due to haste or because of the need to keep it secret, some detachments not only failed to explain the significance of the current retreat to the commanders, but also to the soldiers.Some people still have the view that since we retreat, it means that the enemy has hit our rear.So keep the most active people at a considerable distance from the master. The military council immediately discussed the issue.The director of the Political Department of the Front Army and the Political Commissar of the Brigade Galajev admitted that the commanders and political staff did not explain the essence of the current maneuver to people, which was a serious mistake.The Military Council issued corresponding instructions to the army.Dedicated groups of commanders and political workers were sent to various regions separately from the front military organs.These groups not only helped organize the explaining, but also took practical steps to straighten out the retreat—concentrating on army routes to clear jammed tractors and tractors, organizing adjustment services, and enlisting the help of local residents to repair roads. The party organizations of each army responded enthusiastically to the call of the Military Committee of the Front Army.Organized soldiers in the unit to have a discussion.As a result, organization and discipline were further enhanced in the army. Before October 22, the corps of the Southwest Front Army had successively concentrated in the middle areas of the Seim River, the source of the North Donets River, Belgorod, Kharkov, and Slavyansk. We are all worried about Kharkov.Because in total only one infantry division and one NKVD brigade were sent to defend such a large city.However, the development of the war showed the wisdom of the commander-in-chief's determination.He believed that the Fascists were counterattacked when they tried to round the city, after which they would be forced to carry out a frontal assault.Such an onslaught could be repulsed by a small garrison, provided they made use of the fortifications erected near and within the city. As soon as our army established a foothold in the new area, fierce fighting took place in many frontal areas.Marshal Timoshenko tried to avoid unnecessary losses.It is planned to continue to withdraw the armies to the next intermediate area.But representatives of the chief of the front reported that all the roads east of Belgorod and Kharkov were crowded with logistical units and institutions.Because it was the fall mud season, the car went slower than the turtle.The commander-in-chief had no choice but to order the occupied area to be guarded before October 25.At the same time, the headquarters of the front army and the headquarters of the armies should do everything possible to move the columns stuck on the road forward.It was decided to replace automobiles with animal-powered vehicles requisitioned from collective farms and institutions as much as possible, and to gather the vacated trucks to the rear and form some reserve automobile battalions. After Marshal Timoshenko was convinced that the work of clearing the roads was proceeding at full speed, he ordered on October 23 to draw up instructions for the various armies, requesting the organization to send to the headquarters designated Kastornoye, Staroskol, and Hongliman The newly defended area retreated. At 13:00, I sent the draft order to the commander-in-chief.He signed and changed only one thing: the time to start the retreat was not the night of October 25, but a day and night earlier. "There is no need to inflict unnecessary losses on the army." He explained the reason for the revision. According to the Marshal's plan, the army should be concentrated in the new area by November 2. Semyon Konstantinovitch looked carefully at the map and said: "Where is the fighting in Kharkov now? Is it on the outskirts of the city, or is it already in the city? I'm worried. I reminded Tsyganov that he can't be earlier than the specified deadline, and he can't destroy military important Withdraw from Kharkov before all targets. Front Army Command must pay attention to observation so that this instruction can be accurately implemented.” When I went to report to Bokin about the Commander-in-Chief's new instructions, Galajeev was already with him.The director of the Political Department of the Front Army was saying with his characteristic enthusiasm: "No, Pavel Ivanovitch, this can't go on! The matter should be brought to the Military Council immediately." "In time, Sergey Fyodorovitch," said Bokin perfunctorily. "It's not the time to reward meritorious deeds. Besides, our people don't fight for medals." Annoyance flickered across Galajeev's quick, dark brown eyes. "You always say the same thing: I don't have time to do these trivial things now, we must clear the blockage on the road as soon as possible, and we must withdraw the army from the enemy's assault... But, who will clear the blockage? Who will spare their lives to block the enemy? Yes People are our excellent commanders and fighters. But we have missed the opportunity to credit them and add new strength to people." "I understand all of this..." "If you understand, then why don't you want to support me? You know what we are doing now? The war has been fought for almost four months, and our men have fought bravely. As for sometimes the situation is not good for us. We have to retreat, that's It is not their fault. I agree that there is no rush to reward senior commanders for the time being, but rewards must be given to fighters and commanders at the tactical level. Let them see that the people and chiefs know and value their military exploits. And now this is done Not good. Do you know how many people our front army has rewarded since we fought? Three hundred and ninety-nine people in total! And there are thousands, tens of thousands of people who have performed well! So I insist on discussing this issue in the military committee. It should be proposed to the government that the commander should be authorized to confer orders and medals for military exploits on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR..." "Well then," Borgin yielded, "I'll talk to the Commander-in-Chief about it today, and I think he'll support us." "That's it!" Galajeev smiled, nodded silently to us, and left the office. "What a stubborn man!" said Borgin. "If he starts to do something, he must finish it before he stops." I reported to the Chief of Staff Marshal Timoshenko's instructions and my proposals for their implementation.We agreed to send several officers from our headquarters to Kharkov that very day to help the chief of the city's garrison there. Our comrades flew to Kharkov.The city has been covered in smoke - the enemy is brutally bombing and shooting blocks.The commander of the garrison, General A. A. Marshallkov, said that the units fought tenaciously, although they were mostly composed of inexperienced fighters armed only with rifles and grenades.Insufficient means of transportation, ammunition had to be delivered to the position by tram.Mrs. Kharko has rendered immeasurable assistance to the army.They formed a militia with more than a thousand people.There are many times more people who want to be militiamen, but there are not enough weapons. The small garrison is currently successfully blocking the onslaught of three German divisions.The enemy has more than thirty tanks here, but the defenders of the city have only fourteen outdated light tanks that can be used to deal with them-the workers of the tractor factory intercepted them from the road to the iron furnace. These scrapped tanks were repaired by hands. Yesterday, a group of fascists stormed into the city.Our soldiers carried out a swift and violent counterattack, forcing them to flee.Many Hitlerites passed through the city, not as victors but as captives. Our men told the general that according to the instructions of the head of the front, the defenders of Kharkov should not leave the city until the night of October 24, and he firmly assured: "We will persevere, we must persevere!" Front army representatives found that the actions of the city's garrison headquarters and the head of the 38th Army were sometimes not well coordinated.For example, the 216th Rifle Division received orders from both the Garrison Command and the Army Command.The dual affiliation created confusion.Today, for example, the 216th Rifle Division put the enemy on Sverdlov Street.The division commander had an infantry battalion in his reserve, which he threw into a counterattack, without success.The division commander now asked permission to withdraw his troops across the Lopan.According to Marshalkov, this should not be done. Our representatives went to the army commander.The 38th Army is now under the command of Major General Tsyganov, who took over from General Fekrenko.I remember that someone wondered why C.C. Timoshenko promoted Ziganov to be the commander of the army group covering the most important direction.Because the general had never commanded a large corps before.In 1935-1937 he was deputy principal of the Tambov Infantry School, then worked at the Military Economics Academy. From there he was transferred to the front in July 1941, where he was appointed by the Commander-in-Chief Southwest.The chief still used his experience: he was appointed deputy chief of staff in charge of logistics for the Southwest Command.可是铁木辛哥元帅很快就发现这位经济管理人员具有高级指挥员的天赋，当出现机会时，便大胆提拔他指挥集团军。总司令没有错。齐加诺夫已成为优秀集团军司令员。 将军保证，他将竭尽全力执行命令。他承认确实应该同该市卫戍司令部更密切协同，并答应在这方面采取必要的措施。 “我们正在改善态势。步兵第216师师长昨天夜间不但未经许可就放弃了洛潘河以西的所有街区，而且最使我不快的是他竟率司令部撤出了哈尔科夫。该师向河对岸退却时，法西斯分子未受损伤地夺取了一座桥梁……不错，我军各部队未让敌人利用桥梁闯到东岸，可是情况还是紧张的。我已派旅级日马琴科到那里去了。这位铁人不接到命令是不会退出哈尔科夫的。” 方面军代表对集团军司令员说，总司令特别提醒他，军事上重要的目标一个也不能完整地落到法西斯分子手里。将军苦恼地摊了摊手： “已经有一个目标完整地落到他们手里了，但其余的都已经炸掉。我们还希望能破坏被德国人夺占的那座桥：现在相当一部分炮兵正向它集中射击，还调去了强击机，派出了爆破手组成的破坏组。” 我们的代表同集团军司令员的交谈不断被电话铃声所打断。齐加诺夫将军拿起电话筒，耐心听完对方的话，作一些指示，没有提高嗓门。他和步兵第216师师长通电话时也用平静的语调，问他为什么不经允许就把部队撤到新地区。师长试图说服集团军司令员，假如他不这样做的话，这个师已经被分割，并且断送了。 “我赞赏机断行事的指挥员，”齐加诺夫用有点发闷的男中音平静地回答，“也可能您撤出这个师是对的。这点以后我们再去研究。可是一个事实是，您和自己的司令部一起离开了哈尔科夫，并且好象已经靠近了集团军司令部，而扔下各团不管……是的，是的，就是扔下不管……您自己也曾向我抱怨通信工具奇缺，难道在那种情况下再脱离部队是有利的吗？问题就在这里，”集团军司令员的声音带着父亲般的责备意味，“这点是不可能原谅您的。我不想使您委屈，不过，假如我自己也这样做的话，那么我认为指责我胆怯是公正的。您可以看出来，我不可能在发生这件事后还把您留在这个师。总之，您马上把指挥权交给旅级日马琴科，到我这儿来。” 我一边听同志们说这些情况，一边思索着。看来，齐加诺夫的特点是要求严，不仅善于用授予他的权力，而且善于用极为充分的逻辑使人们服从自己。 集团军司令员齐加诺夫履行了自己的诺言。他的兵团为保卫哈尔科夫顽强作战。在五天的激烈巷战中，进攻的法西斯师损失了一半人员。（笔锋犀利的记者恰当地给这些战斗起了个外号，叫“哈尔科夫放血战”。）哈尔科夫守备部队履行了自己的职责：他们阻住了敌人优势兵力，阻挡的时间正好是首长企图所要求的时间。 当我在10月26日晚上向元帅报告齐加诺夫将军的汇报后，他满意地点点头。 “我们到底还是让赖谢瑙①这只狡猾的狐狸望尘莫及：不但没让他对我哈尔科夫军队设下陷阱，而且在他硬闯到哈尔科夫筑垒时，打得他鼻青眼肿！” -------- ①冯·赖谢瑙将军是德军第6集团军司令，该集团军所属各师在哈尔科夫方向进攻。 总司令伏身看地图。 “好，现在我们开始按同样严格的顺序把军队撤到新地区去。整个司令部都应注意准确执行计划。这首先和您有关，巴格拉米扬同志。” ……分管各集团军并直接监督其行动的方向参谋们整夜都在详细了解军队开始向新地区退却的情况。一切都很顺利：法西斯侦察错过了机会，当法西斯各师拂晓恢复冲击时，我各集团军主力已经在敌炮兵射程之外。法西斯统帅部已经没有实施迂回机动的任何希望。各集团军的行进越来越有计划性，越来越平安了。大家感到，在前一个地区对法西斯分子进行的猛烈反击，明显挫折了他们的进攻锐气。 10月27日清晨，当我确信全部方面军预备队都已集中在预定地域后（骑兵第2军集中于科罗恰市，骑兵第5军集中于沃尔昌斯克附近，步兵第253师集中于斯瓦托沃附近），便走出我呆了一整夜的通信枢纽。在司令部院子里，我碰见一些衣衫褴褛、很久没有刮脸的人。可能是游击队员吧——他们常顺路到我们这里来看看。这些人看来很面熟。我仔细一看，简直不相信自己的眼睛了。 “马日林！阿列克谢耶夫！” “正是在下。” “你们从哪里来？” “直接从地狱来。”马日林笑着说。 在敌后刚走完远路的内务人民委员部第4师师长讲述了他的兵团所遭的厄运——读者已经知道，这个兵团是最后离开基辅的。A·A·阿列克谢耶夫将军则给我说了在卢布内地域挡住克莱斯特各师去路的这个支队的遭遇。 9月10日，原步兵第6军军长阿列克谢耶夫从医院里回到自己的司令部。可是他的职位被占了，他的军已由A·A·洛帕京少将指挥。阿列克谢耶夫赶紧去找集团军司令员科斯坚科。司令员命令他火速组建一个独立支队，辖第94边防总队、内务人民委员部第6团和一个步兵团。在卢布内市地域沿苏拉河占领防御。将军估计敌人只会有一些兵力薄弱的选遣部队突到这里来，所以他决定首先发起冲击。谁知在他这个小小的支队面前，却出现了克莱斯特坦克集团军的重兵。敌人当然击退了冲击，接着就出动坦克。而阿列克谢耶夫支队却连一门反坦克炮都没有。但支队没有后退，指战员们猛烈搏斗。法西斯分子合围了他们。大家一直打到没有弹药，9月底，进行了最后一次突围。幸存者不多，但终于跳出了陷阱。 “现在我们等着决定我们的命运。”马日林说。 “但愿早日派我们回部队。”阿列克谢耶夫叹了口气。 我祝他们成功后，就去休息。最近十天来我第一次可以睡个安稳觉了。我立即感到自己神清气爽。战线出现了从未有过的平静：所有集团军都报告平安无事。我们司令部也象忙碌完一天的蜂房一样，不知怎的一下子沉静下来了。参谋人员和军队通话时较少扯脖子喊了；拼命跑的联络员也难得见到了。 这样的情况是那样的反常，以致引起了人们的不安。而当我们无所不在的侦察兵卡明斯基上校说第21、38集团军已两天“失掉”了敌人，即两天未与敌人进行战斗接触时，不安又为奇怪所代替了。这证明我方面军行进速度大大超过了敌人。 我们应不应该利用这一情况呢？要知道，我方面军之所以退却，很大程度上是因为法西斯各集团军向莫斯科方向和罗斯托夫方向突进，并由此出现了它们迂回我翼侧的威胁（就象在基辅以东时一样）。但现在我们从莫斯科得到的情报说，德军向首都的总攻正在趋于衰竭，敌人实际上已在距莫斯科一百公里处停止不前。罗斯托夫附近的态势也逐渐稳定了。因此，我们可以在大本营指定的地区以西相当远处设防固守了。这样将能改善军队总的战役战略态势。其中，我们可以利用卡斯托尔诺耶－利西昌斯克重要铁路干线，在西南方面军和南方面军之间广泛机动兵力。 我仔细思索过自己的这些结论后，便告诉了参谋长。他微笑着瞟了我一眼。 “您知道吗，我也想过这个问题。如果我们能争取到一点喘息机会，那我们就要利用这个机会在现在到达的地区进行巩固。”他走到地图前，用铅笔在上面划了一下：“大致在这儿……我们占领这一地区，构筑工事，以便长期坚守。您为军事委员会起草一个备要报告，要用相应的战役战术计算加以充实。” 在扎赫瓦塔耶夫上校和部里另两名参谋的帮助下，我当天就做完了这项工作。博金带着拟好的文书匆匆去见总司令。 他回来时已是夜里十一点多了，对我说： “用不着去说服元帅：他自己已打算和大本营谈这件事。一得到莫斯科同意，我们就马上下达命令。要立刻研究好给各集团军的指示。” 我们的谈话被一阵电话铃声打断了。方面军通信主任报告，A·M·华西列夫斯基中将请总司令去接直通电报。华西列夫斯基那时是副总参谋长。谈话看来是很重要的，可是总司令不能去电报室：他发高烧躺在自己停在车站的专车里。博金和我急忙走到直通电报机旁。 参谋长对报务员口授电文： “博金少将在接电报。” “您好，博金同志。”纸条上打出了字。“莫斯科迫切需要骑兵援助。最高统帅部大本营请问方面军军事委员会：它能否把辖骑兵第5、9师的骑兵第2军调到莫斯科附近。请马上就此问题征询军事委员会的意见，并转告我，以便向大本营报告。我由大本营发报。在此等候答复。” “你告诉他，”博金匆忙对我说，“请他等十五分钟左右。我想回答将会是肯定的。但由于没有空车皮，调遣可能会遇到困难。” 他自己急忙去找总司令。 “好，谢谢你们。”马上发来了回答。“空车皮由我们解决。 请告元帅得了什么病：你们说他病了。 " 我回答，元帅发高烧，至于什么病，我也不知道。 参谋长去车站和从车站回来，大约用了半小时。博金一走进电报室，就马上口授： “是华西列夫斯基同志吗？”当他得到肯定回答后，便继续说：“华西列夫斯基同志，我报告了元帅，并得到以下答复：'骑兵第2军已连续作战十七天，需要补充战斗人员。'根据这一总情况，总司令认为不能将该军转归你们调遣。完了。” 华西列夫斯基说他去向斯大林报告总司令的答复，接着又问起铁木辛哥得的什么病。博金回答，他得的是咽颊炎，医生严禁他外出。 大约过了二十分钟，电报机又响起来了。华西列夫斯基问博金是否在场。得知他就在电报机旁后，便发来以下电文： “请立即向元帅同志报告斯大林同志的以下便函：'望转告元帅同志，我恳请他同意大本营关于调骑兵第2军归它调遣的建议。我知道，从西南方面军利益的角度看，这将是一个很大的牺牲，但我请他作出这一牺牲。'” 博金很快看了看表。时针已指到夜间零点一刻了。 “全明白了，”他口授电文，“我亲自去报告。将不会拖延答复。” 博金在回答需要多长时间才能答复时，说不少于一小时，但他将努力通过电话把总司令的答复转告通信枢纽，缩短二十五分钟左右。 华西列夫斯基说斯大林正等着答复，建议博金用电话同总司令交谈。参谋长犹豫了一会：他不想依靠市内线路，但这一次却挥了挥手说： “好。我马上就去打电话。” 大约过了十分钟，他向报务员口授道： “谨报告元帅的答复：'我不是舍不得为了整体利益交出骑兵第2军。但我认为有责任提醒一下：它所处的状况是需要进行两个星期的补充，在这种情形下把它调走，即削弱西南方面军，也不会给莫斯科附近带去好处。如果需要我说到的那种状况的骑兵第2军，那么，只要发来列车，我就会把它调去。'” 我明白总司令还抱着一线希望：大本营得知这个军的状况后会不调它。 华西列夫斯基说，他报告斯大林后将再次请博金通话。于是我们又苦等了将近半小时。终于电报机又响了。 “请接收并报告斯大林同志的答复。”华西列夫斯基发来的电文说。“'铁木辛哥同志！列车将发去。请下令该军装载。 该军将在莫斯科得到补充。 '" 以后我们信服了：这是一个英明的决心。别洛夫军对粉碎从南面扑向莫斯科的古德里安各师，起了重要作用。 不过，我这样详细地叙述这一段情节，不单单是为了让大家重温这一尽人皆知的事实。由于我知道斯大林拥有巨大的权力和真正不可动摇的权威，所以我对他的领导方法感到惊奇。他本来可以简单地下令“给一个军”，就完事了。可是斯大林却很有分寸、很耐心地等待执行者自己得出必须采取这一步骤的结论。我自己后来经常以方面军司令员的身份同最高统帅通话，我深信他是善于倾听部属意见的。如果执行者坚持自己的意见，并且为论证自己的观点提出有分量的论据的话，那么斯大林几乎总是让步的。 总司令得知别洛夫军还是要开赴谢尔普霍夫地域后，便让博金请华西列夫斯基向大本营报告军事委员会关于停止撤退我各集团军的意见。 10月28日早晨有了答复。大本营批准了西南方面军首长的建议。中午十二点，铁木辛哥签署了我们提前拟好的训令。训令通知，方面军停止退却，在季姆市、巴拉克列伊卡市、伊久姆市一线，继而沿北顿涅茨河到扬波尔市，转入坚守防御。给每个集团军都指定了防御地带。 在方面军于该训令临签发前停下来的那一线与新防御地区之间，有一个相当宽阔的地带。铁木辛哥决定不把这块地方留给敌人，而把它作为前地使用，在前地掩护下，准备在基本防御地区实施防御。 于是，在我们方面军的生涯中就出现了新的转折。法西斯最高当局不得不苦恼地承认，德军延期一个半月对莫斯科实施总攻，实际上并没有达到目的。方面军的战役战略态势更加稳定，再度转入了积极的战斗行动。它的猛烈突击向敌人表明，重建的西南方面军同以前一样，仍然是一支威胁性的力量。