red moscow

Chapter 2579

After Sokov followed Sokolovsky to the airport, the convoy drove straight to a transport plane parked next to the runway.

After boarding the plane, Sokov tentatively asked Sokolovsky: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what happened in Berlin that required us to rush back overnight?"

Sokolovsky looked at Sokov, sighed, and said, "Misha, don't worry, you will know the answer in two hours at most."

Seeing that Sokolovsky was unwilling to talk, Sokov naturally could not ask any more questions. He began to wonder what had happened in Berlin that made Sokolovsky so anxious to return. Could it be that something had happened to Zhukov?

This speculation was not made out of thin air. After all, the commander-in-chief of the German group was Marshal Zhukov, and Sokolovsky was just his deputy. Even if the British, American and French troops wanted to attack the Soviet army, Zhukov could make the decision himself. There was no need to recall Sokolovsky from Nuremberg. Unless the Supreme Command dismissed Zhukov and Berlin was leaderless, Sokolovsky had to be recalled to Berlin urgently.

But on second thought, wasn't Zhukov removed from his post as commander-in-chief of the German garrison in Germany and sent to the Odessa Military District as commander of the military district in March 46? Could it be that this time was brought forward?

After an hour's flight, the plane landed at a military airport in Berlin.

The plane was still taxiing on the runway when a black car parked beside the runway caught up with it.

When the plane came to a complete stop, the car just stopped not far from the cabin door. Then a major came out from the co-pilot seat and looked up at the closed cabin door.

The cabin door opened, and after the pilot lowered the gangway, he was the first to get off the plane and stood upright next to the gangway.

After getting off the plane, Sokolovsky nodded to the pilot and said politely, "Thank you, comrade pilot!"

The pilot quickly and loudly replied: "In the service of the Soviet Motherland!"

When the major saw Sokolovsky getting off the plane, he hurried over and saluted: "Hello, Comrade Deputy Commander, Marshal Zhukov ordered me to pick you up, please get in the car."

Sokolovsky glanced at Sokov, who was following behind him, and politely asked the major, "General Sokov is going back to Berlin with me. Can he go with me to see Marshal Zhukov?"

"Of course, Comrade Deputy Commander." The major nodded and said in a positive tone: "Comrade Marshal also wants to meet General Sokov, so let's get in the car together."

Sokov said nothing, but followed Sokolovsky into the car obediently, keeping silent the whole time so as not to say something wrong accidentally.

After arriving at Zhukov's headquarters, Sokov saw that the officers he met along the way all had very serious expressions on their faces, as if something big had happened, and he couldn't help but become more uneasy.

"Hello, Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union." After entering Zhukov's office, Sokolovsky was the first to raise his hand to salute Zhukov, and reported in accordance with the regulations: "General Sokolovsky, the first deputy commander of the German group, comes to report to you!"

"Come on, there's no outsider here, so there's no need to be so polite." Zhukov came over and shook hands with Sokolovsky: "You know everything, let's complete the necessary handover work as soon as possible."

Sokov, who was standing next to him, was shocked when he heard Zhukov say this. Could it be that his guess was correct? He looked at Zhukov carefully and found that after only twenty days of not seeing him, he seemed to have aged by ten years, and even his back was a little hunched.

"Comrade Marshal, what's going on?" Sokolovsky asked. "Why are you in such a hurry to hand over your work?"

"Misha, you're back too." Zhukov did not answer Sokolovsky's question immediately, but called out to Sokov who was standing next to him: "Don't stand there, find a place to sit down."

After Sokolovsky and Sokov sat down, Zhukov picked up a newspaper, walked up to them, handed it to them and said, "Take a look at this newspaper."

Sokolovsky took the newspaper and began to read it.

Sokov quickly leaned over and saw clearly that it was a copy of the Red Star newspaper. One of the reports was circled in red. Sokov guessed that Zhukov wanted the two of them to read the circled part, so he concentrated on reading it.

The report wrote: "After the Germans surrendered, we could see Marshal Zhukov everywhere in the streets of Berlin. He inspected the ruins and the exaggerated Prussian-style statues. When he saw the flattering and obedient Germans, the marshal's eyes revealed contempt... That day, the marshal attended the funeral of the martyrs who died in the Battle of Berlin and delivered a stirring speech in front of the tomb: 'The heroes who died for the motherland, freedom and independence will live forever...' He grabbed a handful of soil and sprinkled it into the grave, then walked towards the military flag, held up the flag and kissed a corner of it."

After reading the report, Sokov couldn't help but frown, thinking, isn't this a report shortly after the Battle of Berlin ended? What is Zhukov's purpose in letting the two of them read this report? He moved his eyes to the newspaper's title and found that the date was May 5, exactly one week after Germany signed the unconditional surrender.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokolovsky put the newspaper on his knees after reading the report and asked Zhukov in confusion, "I read this report as early as May. Is there any problem?"

Zhukov sneered and said, "Now some people are using this article to say that I took all the credit for defeating Germany and did not mention the contribution made by the Supreme Commander himself..."

Zhukov stopped talking halfway through. Although he didn't finish his words, Sokov and Sokolovsky both understood what he meant. Now that the war was over, his role was not as big as before, and some people were ready to make a fuss about him.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokolovsky asked cautiously, "You are in a hurry to call me back and are ready to hand over the work to me. Have you heard something?"

"I received a message from my own channels that the Supreme Command discussed the proposal to relieve me of my post at a meeting this afternoon..."

"What was the result of the discussion?" Sokolovsky asked nervously.

"Most people at the meeting agreed to this proposal. I will be relieved of my duties and you will take over my job." Zhukov said, "Although the official documents have not yet been issued, I think it is necessary to call you back as soon as possible and gradually hand over the work in hand to you."

"What are you going to do after you hand over the work?"

"Wait." Zhukov said in a heavy tone, "Wait for the order from the Supreme Command." "What do you think the Supreme Command will do with you after the order to formally relieve you of your duties arrives?" Sokolovsky asked with a worried look on his face, "Will they let you stay in Berlin or return to Moscow?"

"I think the latter is more likely, so I'm in a hurry to call you back and hand over the work to you. If I wait until the order arrives before handing over the work, I'm afraid it will be too late." After Zhukov said this to Sokolovsky, he turned his eyes to Sokov and said apologetically: "Misha, I called you to Berlin specifically because I wanted to arrange a suitable job for you, but the superiors arranged someone else. If I go back to Moscow, will you go with me?"

Hearing Zhukov's question, Sokov stood up suddenly and answered loudly: "Comrade Marshal, wherever you go, I will go. If you want to go back to Moscow, I will definitely follow you."

"Very good." Zhukov was very satisfied with Sokov's answer. After asking him to sit down, he smiled and said, "I remember that Asia seems to be giving birth in March. You can just stay with her and watch your child being born with your own eyes."

Next, Zhukov began to hand over the work to Sokolovsky. Sokolovsky felt that his presence here seemed a bit redundant, so he took the initiative to say goodbye and leave.

When they returned to the Adlon Hotel, the front desk staff was surprised to see Sokov. She looked behind Sokov and asked in surprise, "Comrade General, are you back alone?"

"Yes, something happened here, so I flew back overnight." Sokov nodded and said, "The rest of us are going back by car. It may take some time on the way, but we will all be back later at the latest."

Sokov returned to his room and began to think about the current situation. Zhukov was dismissed from his post in March 46 and sent to Odessa to serve as the commander of the military district. However, before that, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The Supreme Command probably worried that if Zhukov was demoted directly, it would cause a lot of dissatisfaction in the army, so it arranged a job transition for him. After a while, find a reason to send him to Odessa to serve as the commander of the military district, and no one will gossip.

The next morning, Sokov came to the school where the 3rd Guard Team was stationed to see how their training was going.

As soon as he entered the school gate, he met the quartermaster, Lieutenant Breliska, and hurriedly greeted him: "Comrade Lieutenant!"

Hearing Sokov calling him, Breliska, who was talking to someone, immediately stopped the conversation, walked quickly towards Sokov, saluted, and said excitedly: "Comrade General, you are back!"

"Yes, I'm back." Sokov nodded and asked, "How is the training of the troops?"

"Not bad." Breliska said, "After all, they are all soldiers. After a week of training, they began to patrol the streets in batches."

"Where is Captain Hosenfeld?"

"He's not here, Comrade General."

"Where did you go?"

"I'm going home."

Sokov was stunned when he heard this. He thought, isn't it forbidden to leave the camp at will? Why would Hosenfeld go home alone? He asked in confusion, "Why is he going home?"

"Comrade General, you don't know yet." Hearing Sokov's question, Breliska seemed particularly excited: "His wife and children have been found. Officer Bayer found them in Bavaria and sent them back personally. Captain Hosenfel went home to reunite with his family. I don't know if he will come back today."

After hearing this, Sokov thought that the train was fast. If Vaserigov and his men set out after daybreak, they would still be bumping along the road. If they were fast, they would be able to reach Berlin tomorrow morning. He wanted to visit Hosenfeld and his wife and children on Wilhelm Street, but considering that he did not know Russian, he would not be able to communicate with them even if he went. After hesitating for a moment, he asked Breliska, "What about the liaison officer Ernst? Where is he?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General, he's not here." Breliska understood what Sokov meant and quickly explained to him, "He's out on patrol and won't be back until noon at the earliest. If you want to go to William Street to visit Captain Hosenfeld and his family, I'm afraid there's no one to translate for you."

Upon learning that Ernst was not there either, Sokov immediately gave up the idea of ​​going to William Street. After chatting with Breliska for a few words, he turned around and left the school.

As soon as he returned to the Adlon Hotel, the female soldier on duty at the front desk greeted Sokov: "Comrade General, there is a message for you."

Sokov raised his eyebrows and asked, "Whose message is it?"

"It was Marshal Zhukov's adjutant who called." The female soldier said, "He asked you to go to the headquarters immediately after you come back. Comrade Marshal wants to see you urgently."

After thanking the female soldier, Sokov turned and walked out of the hotel. Fortunately, the car that Zhukov prepared for him last night had not left yet. He opened the door and got in, saying to the driver, "Drive to the headquarters."

Ten minutes later, the car arrived at the headquarters. Sokov opened the door and jumped out, walking quickly into the building. He had a bad feeling in his heart, thinking that the order to dismiss Zhukov had arrived, and Zhukov's request to see him might be related to this matter.

Sure enough, when Sokov arrived at Zhukov's office, he found that the waiting room that used to be crowded with people was empty except for Zhukov's adjutant. When the adjutant saw Sokov coming, he immediately stood up to greet him: "General Sokov, you are here! Marshal Zhukov is waiting for you inside!"

Sokov walked into the office and saw Zhukov sitting behind his desk working hard. He quickly reported: "Comrade Marshal!..."

Before Sokov could finish his words, Zhukov raised his head, waved at him and said, "Misha, come here!"

Sokov walked quickly to Zhukov's desk, looked at him straight in the eye, and waited for him to give him orders.

"Misha," Zhukov sighed softly and said, "I just received a personnel order from the Supreme Command, asking me to return to Moscow immediately to take up my new position, and the work of the German group will be temporarily handed over to General Sokolovsky."

After hearing what Zhukov said, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, didn't the personnel order of the Supreme Command clearly state that you were going to be removed from your post?"

"No, I was just asked to go back and take up a new position," Zhukov replied. "And the work of the German group will only be temporarily in the hands of Sokolovsky."

Seeing Zhukov's relaxed expression, Sokov's mood became heavy. It seemed that the development of the matter was consistent with his memory. The Supreme Command asked Zhukov to return to Moscow to take up a new position, which was nothing more than letting him serve as Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Then, after a period of time, they found a reason to remove him from his position and sent him to a small military district like Odessa to serve as the commander of the military district.