Steel Soviet Union

After listening to the report from the combat staff officer next to him, Zhukov, who had just taken over the command of the reserve front shortly after arriving at the front line, couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

Before Zhukov was still the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army and was not fired from his position by Stalin, Zhukov, who was deeply worried about the frontline war, had gathered with Vasilevsky and others, who were also famous generals in the Red Army, to discuss the current Yeli situation. The problems facing the Niya theater and what countermeasures should be taken in the near future.

After a short discussion, a group of senior Red Army commanders and fighters participating in the meeting, including Zhukov and Vasilevsky, came to a unanimous opinion.

Since the beginning of the war, the German Army Group Center has already stretched the front line due to the fierce momentum along the way. The attack progress of the other two German Army Groups, which are relatively weaker in the north and south, has lagged far behind that of Army Group Center. Propulsion speed.

To the north, Leningrad, an important northern Soviet town still in the hands of the Red Army, has posed a threat to the flanks of German Army Group Center. The Soviet field groups hoarded in the city of Leningrad and defending the city could advance, attack, retreat or defend. This was a trouble that should not be underestimated for the German Army Group Center, which had already stretched its battle line and its forces were too dispersed.

In the south, the massive Soviet field groups stationed in Ukraine are still engaged in fierce battles with the German Army Group South. Although Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, is in danger, it is still in the hands of the Red Army after all. The powerful Soviet field group in the Ukrainian direction is fully capable of posing a serious threat to the flank of Army Group Center in the other direction.

Therefore, although the advancing speed of the German Army Group Center was unstoppable and fierce, to a certain extent, the other two German Army Groups, which had "dagged Army Group Center", encountered difficulties in their respective directions of attack. A certain level of difficulty.

As a result, the vanguard of Army Group Center is now like a long spike embedded in the hinterland of the Soviet Union, facing the threat and possibility of being attacked from the north and south by the Soviet Red Army at any time.

Furthermore, after forcibly crossing the Dnieper River, the German Army Group Center, which immediately dispatched the first troops to cross the river to continue the fierce attack, is now experiencing difficulties in troop dispatch and supply. The most direct manifestation of this is that the German army used two divisions and one regiment of weak troops in the Yelnya City theater to resist the onslaught of a group of more than 20 Soviet divisions.

After comprehensively analyzing all the above factors, all senior Soviet commanders and fighters participating in the meeting agreed that there was a high possibility that the German army would not attack Moscow in the near future.

The German army in 1941 was far from the crazy gamble that was over in 1944 and 1945. After the start of the Barbarossa invasion, the German three-way army group was advancing steadily and step by step in coordination with the strategic posture.

The possibility that Army Group Center, which currently has difficulty in troop deployment, would go deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, which was surrounded by Soviet troops on three sides, and launch an attack on Moscow was extremely slim.

After recalling the strategic situation seminar and analysis meeting that I personally led not long ago and the conclusions reached, I firmly believe that the German Army Group Center will not immediately launch an attack in the direction of Moscow before the war between Leningrad in the north and Ukraine in the south has been completely resolved. , Zhukov, who was thoughtful and resolute, immediately came up with a bold speculation.

"Is there such a possibility, comrades? We assume that the German Army Group Center has now divided its forces into two groups to support the Leningrad direction in the north and the Ukrainian direction in the south. At present, the reinforcements in the Yelniya theater are German The final combat strength of Army Group Center in this area."

"The purpose is not to accumulate troops to prepare for an attack in the direction of Moscow, but to delay us before the war in the north and south is resolved, so as to hold the springboard of Yelniya City for later use. When Leningrad and After the war in Ukraine is completely over, a large force will be sent back to support us, and we will take advantage of our defense group in the direction of Moscow and then take the opportunity to launch a general attack and seize Moscow. "

Although from the perspective of later generations' evaluation, the assumption made by Zhukov at this time was undoubtedly a simplified and slightly modified version of the combat plan drawn up by the German head of state Hitler himself, and it was completely accurate.

However, at a time when the Soviet army is making unfavorable progress in all directions of combat, Zhukov's hypothesis can be said to be a complete gamble.

Once Zhukov makes a mistake in judgment and launches an attack on Yelniya rashly, the German Army Group Center entrenched in the rear of Yelniya is likely to take this opportunity to launch an attack on the Soviet army.

By then, the German Army Group Center, which has clearly superior offensive energy, will have a great chance of winning this offensive-versus-offensive battle.

The defeat of the Reserve Front and even the entire Western Front will completely lead to a vacuum of Soviet defensive forces in the direction of Moscow and an opening. Everyone who drafted this combat plan, including Zhukov, will become the Soviet mother. The criminal who destroyed the country.

Seeing the uncertain and hesitant expressions on the faces of the staff officers present and even the commanders of the subordinate group armies, Zhukov, who had just been transferred from Moscow to the front-line troops to directly take charge of directing the front-line battles, couldn't help but let out a sigh of disappointment.

Since the German army launched the invasion operation, the battle situation has been miserably defeated without any victory, which has made many front-line commanders and fighters of the Red Army and even the commander of the group army have a fear of war.

The battle here does not refer to all battles in a general sense, but only refers to the offensive battles in which one's own side initiates an attack.

Although some words are obviously inconvenient to say, facing the powerful and seemingly invincible German army, it is so difficult to even barely defend against the opponent's offensive, let alone relying on subjective judgment when the enemy's situation is unknown. Taking the initiative to launch an offensive campaign, many front-line commanders and fighters of the Red Army, regardless of their status or position, have such a natural mentality.

Zhukov, who has always regarded offense as the true soul of a powerful army, naturally cannot allow this situation to continue.

In order to achieve a decisive victory in the second phase of the counter-offensive operation in the Yelnya Theater, Zhukov was determined to reverse this negative mood. He then firmed up his will and was about to speak again, but was interrupted by a sudden words. Zhukov's words were already on his lips.

"Comrade Commander, the urgent call from Moscow is very important information!"