Burning Moscow

"What? Six new tanks can deal with a German tank regiment?" Rokosovsky had an incredible expression on his face. If he didn't know me, he would have rebutted. .

"That's right, Comrade Rokosovsky." Stalin stood up at this time and expressed support for me: "What Lida said is true. For Deco, the newly developed tank is It is an invincible existence."

Although Stalin did not tell Rokosovsky for the sake of secrecy that these new tanks were manufactured under the guidance of later generations of engineers, Rokosovsky was overjoyed. He excitedly calculated the armored strength of both the enemy and us: "Six vehicles will be enough for one German tank regiment of the opposing German army. If our central front army can be equipped with 120 vehicles, even if the results are compromised, then at least one thousand Germans can be dealt with. tank.……"

"Comrade Rokosovsky, you are too happy." Stalin suddenly poured cold water on Rokosovsky, who was a little overwhelmed: "With our existing production process and steelmaking technology, temporarily It is impossible to mass-produce the special steel required for the new tank. In other words, our troops want to equip the new tank in the near future, which is completely unworkable."

Stalin’s remarks not only surprised Rokosovsky, but even me. I didn’t expect that after this new tank was manufactured, it would not be able to be installed on a large scale due to the lack of special steel. Army, then in the next battle of Kursk, the new tank will not have any chance to show its power.

"But, Comrade Stalin, I still have one question." Rokosovsky was lost for a moment. He quickly returned to normal, and he respectfully asked: "When will the tank corps of our front army get their tanks supplemented?"

Hearing this question, Stalin thought for a while and wanted to answer: "I think you will have to wait until mid-June at the earliest for your Central Front to be supplemented with tanks and other technical equipment."

"Comrade Stalin. Please be forgiving." After listening to Stalin's answer, Rokosovsky said sternly: "From Kharkov to Kursk, there is almost a plain, which is very conducive to the large-scale German army. Mechanized assault. If we don’t have enough armor to contend with, facing hundreds of German tanks, we can’t stop it at all.”

Regarding Rokosowski's complaints. Stalin was very tolerant. He took a cigarette and said: "Comrade Rokosovsky, although the base camp cannot provide enough tanks for the Central Front for the time being, there are other defensive methods to deal with German tanks. During the war. A series of experience and lessons learned from the anti-tank battle is the key to resisting the German offensive. The reason why our army was defeated by the Germans at the beginning of the war was directly caused by the inability of the anti-tank battle. They It was first defeated by German tanks, and then surrounded and annihilated by a large number of German infantry."

"Comrade Stalin, I don't know what defensive measures we should take to deal with the large-scale armored assault that the German army may launch?" Rokosovsky said worriedly: "Even if we have a defensive depth of one or two hundred kilometers, facing The assault of German tanks. Our defense will appear to be inadequate."

"Comrade Rokosovsky, don't worry." Stalin said slowly: "Although the base camp does not provide enough tanks for your front, there are other defense methods. For example, the rocket launcher that is being mass-produced. It is still coming soon. The assault rifles of the troops are installed. There is also an anti-tank trench." Then, he told Rokosovsky about the length, width and height of the "Golan trench" I reported.

After listening to Rokosovsky, he pondered a little and asked half-believely: "Comrade Stalin, the anti-tank trenches you are talking about sound like very powerful. But I don’t know how it will be in actual combat. How effective can it be."

Stalin pointed at me with his pipe holding hand. Said: "After the launch of this new type of anti-tank trench, the squad led by Comrade Ustinov has been specially tested. From the report he handed to me this morning, it can be seen that no matter how powerful it is, The German armored forces had no way before such an anti-tank trench. Since this type of anti-tank trench was researched by Lida, I suggest to name it after her surname, just call it'Oshaninna trench'. !"

These words of Stalin scared me almost to sit on the ground. It was originally an anti-tank trench named after the Israeli Minister of Defense, but it turned into an anti-tank trench named after myself.

After a short period of silence, Stalin smiled again and said: "Lida, I wonder if you are interested in commanding a front army alone? If you have this willingness, I can consider appointing you as the newly formed front army reserve. The commander, deployed to the northeast of Kursk, as a reserve of the Central Front and Voronezh Front."

Although Stalin said this personally, I can only assume that he was joking and joking. I have insufficient qualifications and prestige in the army. If I want to take the overall situation in a certain direction, I will definitely attract a lot of opposition. Besides, I have no experience in commanding the overall situation, so I can't do it well at all.

I am very self-aware, knowing that I am not suitable to be a single-handed commander, so I truthfully reported to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, thank you for your kindness. However, from the current situation, my ability is limited and I cannot serve as a new commander for the time being. The commander of the front army, please choose someone else."

For my answer, Stalin seems to be prepared long ago. After he listened, he did not make any comments. Instead, he called Rokosovsky and I to the table, pointed to the map above and said to me: "Let’s take a look at this map, and I’ll tell you about it. The deployment of new troops.

The Western Front will be deployed in the vicinity of Kaluga. Except for the 11th Army, which will stick to Kaluga, the rest of the 10th Army, the 50th Army, the 1st Guards Army, the 61st Army, and the Air Force 1st Army will be Mainly responsible for the defense of the Oka River Basin, monitoring the German Central Army Group located in Bryansk and Orel regions.

The 4th Guards Army, the 3rd Guards Tank Army, the 3rd Infantry Army, and the 63rd Army. And the Bryansk Front Army, composed of the 15th Army of the Air Force, will be responsible for the flanking defense work of the Western Front.

The next step is your Central Front and Vatutin's Voronezh Front. You will be responsible for building sufficient defense depth in the Kursk region to withstand possible German offensives. "

Stalin before concluding his speech. I also asked specifically: "Comrade Rokosovsky, do you really think we are not suitable for counterattack against the Germans now?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Hearing Stalin's question, Rokosovsky immediately replied without hesitation: "Because the current weather is getting warmer, the road has become muddy due to melting snow, resulting in the supply of troops. It’s terrible. And many troops have been exhausted after long battles. If under such circumstances, a hasty counterattack against the Germans is launched, I don’t see any hope of success."

After Rokosovsky’s words were finished, Stalin said thoughtfully: "So far. Except for Vatutin and Khrushchev, both Zhukov and Vasilevsky have strongly approached me. Please, do not rashly launch a counterattack against the German army under the current circumstances, so as not to consume the elite troops that have been accumulated with great difficulty."

"Exactly correct, Comrade Stalin." Rokosovsky heard Stalin say what he wanted to say, and quickly echoed: "So I suggest that our troops stay in the existing defensive zone temporarily. Build fortifications. etc. After we have consumed a large amount of the enemy's strength in our defense, we will launch a final counterattack."

After Rokosovsky finished speaking, Stalin walked to the telephone not far away. Picked up the phone and dialed a number. After a while, I heard him asking: "Hey, is this Comrade Zhukov? Have you received any information about the enemy?"

Because the room is very quiet, even if I stand four or five meters away from Stalin, I can still hear the voice in the receiver. Zhukov slowly replied, "Yes. Comrade Stalin, I just received Voronezh. The reconnaissance report transferred from the front army."

"Send someone to me immediately." Stalin commanded briefly.

Zhukov quickly replied: "Comrade Stalin. I have sent someone to send you the latest information. I believe you will see it soon."

Almost at the same time. There was another noise from the door, and Poskrebshev, who was holding a piece of paper in his hand, walked quickly to Stalin's side, and then stood motionless.

Stalin glanced at him and said into the microphone: "Comrade Zhukov, I think it should be the information you sent. I will contact you after I finish reading it." After speaking, he hung up the phone.

Stalin took the piece of paper in Poskrebeshev's hand, and after a few glances, his brows wrinkled. After reading it, he slowly walked in front of us, handed the paper to Rokosovsky, and said in a flat tone: "Comrade Rokosovsky, take a look at this latest information. "

When Rokosovsky was reading the information, I couldn't help but lean over to see what was written on it, which could make Stalin's expression so serious. I didn't look at it, and I was shocked in a cold sweat when I saw it. I saw it read:

"At present, the face-to-face enemies of the Voronezh Front are:

1 The first line has 9 infantry divisions (26th, 68th, 323, 75, 255, 57, 332, 167 and 1 division with unknown designation). These divisions occupied and defended the Red October Village, Grand Chernetchina, Krasnopolis, and Kazatskoye. The unidentified division, according to the prisoner’s confession, was heading to the Soldatskoy area to change shifts with the 332nd Infantry Division.

The above information is being verified. There is unconfirmed intelligence that the enemy has 6 infantry divisions in the second echelon. The location of these divisions has not been ascertained, and this information is also being verified. According to radio reconnaissance, there is a Hungarian division headquarters in the Kharkov area. The division may be transferred to a secondary direction.

2 Currently the enemy has 6 tank divisions ('Big German','Adolf Hitler','skeleton','Empire', 6th and 11th tank divisions), of which 3 are on the front line and 3 ('Big Germanic', 6th and 11th Tank Divisions) were in the second line. According to the information of radio reconnaissance, the headquarters of the enemy's 17th Tank Division has been moved from Alekseyevsky to Tasyagovka. This indicates that the 1st tank division is moving northward. Judging from the current strength, the enemy may transfer three additional tank divisions from the Southwest Front Army area to the Belgorod area.

3 Therefore, it is expected that the enemy may form an assault group with a strength of 10 tank divisions and at least 6 infantry divisions in Voronezh. The cluster will have a total of 1,500 tanks, and it is expected to be concentrated in the Borisovka, Belgorod, Murom, and Kazakyalopan areas. The assault cluster may be supported by a strong aviation force of about 500 bombers and at least 300 fighter sails.

The enemy's attempt was to carry out a centripetal assault from the Belgorod area to the northeast and from the Orel area to the southeast to encircle our troops west of the Belgorod and Kursk line.

Afterwards, it is expected that the enemy will carry out assaults on the wing and rear of our southwestern front in the southeast to ensure future operations in the north.

However, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the enemy will abandon the plan to attack southeast this year, but will attack the northeast after completing the centripetal assault carried out by Belgorod and Orel. Detour to Moscow. This possibility should be estimated and the reserve team should be prepared accordingly. "

When Rokosovsky and I were looking at the information, Stalin picked up the phone again. Just listen to him saying: "Comrade Zhukov~www.NovelMTL.com~ Do you have any thoughts on the information provided by Vatutin and Khrushchev?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov said calmly: "We should let the commanders of the Central Front and Voronezh Front quickly build strong fortifications in the direction of Korsk to prevent possible German attacks."

After Stalin waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, he asked in a polite tone: "When do you estimate the German offensive will begin?"

"Judging from the current situation, the enemy is not yet ready for a large-scale offensive. The offensive is not expected to be launched earlier than April 20 this year, and it may be in early May." Zhukov said after his analysis, perhaps In order to strengthen Stalin's confidence, he also specifically emphasized: "The troops of General Rebarko who occupied Kiev will also contain part of the German troops and technical equipment, so that they must spend longer time preparing for the offensive. "

Stalin sighed and said unwillingly: "Comrade Zhukov, your analysis of the enemy's situation is correct. Under the current circumstances, we really should not rashly counterattack the German army, so as to avoid the army that has been accumulated. Lost in vain in a hopeless counterattack. Just as you said, all troops were turned into defense on the spot, ready to deal with the upcoming German offensive." (To be continued)