Burning Moscow
Chapter 11: Response measures (part 1)
I heard that Zhukov was going to arrange for me to see Stalin, and my heartbeat couldn't help speeding up. I asked myself, in the face of a stubborn person like Stalin, even Zhukov could not convince him. Can a person like me play in a light-hearted role achieve better results than him? It is for this reason that I am embarrassed to say: "Comrade Marshal, is this appropriate?"
Zhukov waved his hand and said carelessly: "There is nothing inappropriate. Let Colonel Bezikov accompany you later. As long as he leads you, you can enter the Kremlin without being summoned."
"But... but what should I say after seeing the Supreme Commander himself?" Although Zhukov was very relaxed, I didn't dare to take it lightly, and could only ask cautiously: "If he asks if he should If the Germans counterattack, how should I answer him?"
Regarding my series of questions, Zhukov only pondered for a moment, and then decisively said: "You can answer whatever you think, without any scruples." Seeing my worried look, he deliberately comforted me and said, " Don't worry, according to my judgment, Comrade Stalin is very willing to listen to your true thoughts, so I will arrange for you to see him."
After spending a long time in Zhukov’s headquarters and chatting about some irrelevant things, I, accompanied by Bezikov, came to the latest chapter of the Holy Hand of Ghost Doctor in the Kremlin.
Maybe Zhukov called and communicated in advance. As soon as our car stopped on the square, a colonel ran over. After thinking about Bezikov's experience, he turned to me and asked, "Excuse me, Comrade Oshanina. ?"
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." I knew this might be an officer who came to pick me up. After nodding, I asked tentatively: "Are you going to accompany me to see the Supreme Commander himself?"
"Yes. Comrade General." The colonel said to me politely: "I'm instructed to take you up, please come for me."
When I entered the building where Stalin was working under his leadership, and went upstairs up the stairs, I was worried about the shock of the wound. I walked cautiously, so the speed is naturally amazing. The colonel obviously knew my situation, so when he saw that I was walking slowly, he couldn't help but slow down.
As we walked slowly forward along the corridor, the colonel asked with concern: "Comrade General, is your wound hurting?"
I nodded. He replied: "Yes, comrade colonel. Although I performed the operation ten days ago, the healing of the wound is not ideal. If I go too fast, I am worried that the wound will crack."
We quickly walked to a tall door. The colonel asked me to wait a moment. He opened the door and walked in. I clearly heard him say: "Report Comrade Boskrebeshev, General Oshanina is here."
"Let him in." The plain voice of Stalin's office director Boskrebeshev heard from the door.
"Yes!" The colonel agreed, walked out of the door, stepped aside, and gestured to me to enter.
After I thanked the colonel. Crossing the gate, I saw Poskrebeshev, standing next to the writing desk, the office director who was not tall, had a shaved head and was wearing military uniform. He gave me a little bit and said politely: "Hello, General Oshanina!" As he said, he stretched out his hand to me.
I quickly stretched out my hands to hold his hand, and said politely: "Hello, Poskrebeshev. Nice to meet you."
After letting go of his hand, he whispered: "The Supreme Commander himself is waiting for you inside. Please come in." After speaking, he walked to another door leading to the inner room.
He walked in first. Standing at the door, he said to the inside: "Comrade Stalin, Comrade Oshanina is here!"
"Let her in." Stalin's extremely majestic voice came from the room.
Boskrebeshev walked back to the door again, and said blankly to me: "Please come in, Comrade Oshanina, the Supreme Commander himself is waiting for you inside."
After nodding to thank him, I stepped into this spacious office. The first thing that caught my eyes was a large writing desk. On the other side was a long desk, which should be used for meetings. There are several portraits hanging on the wall, of which three portraits, I recognized Lenin, Marx and Engels in the shortest time. And Stalin himself was dangling his pipe, pacing slowly back and forth in front of the portrait.
Seeing Stalin appearing in front of me, I forcibly suppressed my inner excitement and walked forward quickly. Stopped at a place five or six steps away from him, raised his hand to salute, and reported loudly: "Comrade Supreme Commander, Lieutenant General Oshanina is here at your order. Please give instructions!"
Stalin stopped and moved the pipe away from his mouth with a smile on his face. He said amiably: "Lida, you have been to a lot of battlefields in this year and more, and you have also made great achievements. It's a hard work. !"
Hearing him say this, I quickly habitually replied: "I am willing to serve the motherland of the Soviet Union!"
Stalin nodded in satisfaction, put the pipe in his mouth again, and said: "It seems that you have served well. You actually have so many heavyweight medals."
For his compliment, I didn't say anything, just smiled politely. I read the full text of Hollywood.
Perhaps seeing my restraint, Stalin greeted me and sat down at the table and said slowly: "Lida, I found you today because there is something I want to hear from you!"
As soon as his words fell, I quickly got up from my seat and said respectfully: "I follow your instructions!"
"This is the situation," Stalin raised his hand to the pressure, motioned me to sit down, and said to himself: "The new commander of the Voronov Front, Comrade Vatutin, and Military Commissioner Khrushchev Comrades called me and suggested to me to launch a counterattack against the Germans in the near future, and take advantage of their insecure foothold to retake Kharkov."
When he said this, he paused for a while, as if waiting for me to speak. Seeing that I was just staring at him silently, he went on and said: "But Zhukov and Vasilevsky put forward the exact opposite. Opinion, suggest that I stick to the existing defensive zone and wait for the German forces to be consumed before launching a final counterattack. I don’t know what you think about this matter. I want to hear your opinion."
Although Stalin said he was asking for my opinion, I knew in my heart that he probably had a plan long ago. Asking me this way is nothing more than looking for someone to echo his opinion. Thinking of the history of the Kursk battle, the Soviet army did not have any major military operations, so I feel confident and boldly said: "Comrade Stalin, please pardon me. I think our army is not suitable for the current situation. Launch a counterattack against the Germans."
Hearing what I said, Stalin's face did not show the slightest surprise. He sat down on the empty chair next to me and pointed at me with his pipe-holding finger, "Tell me what you think."
"Comrade Stalin," I said euphemistically: "From the current situation, although we have more troops than the Germans, the Germans have an advantage in weapons and equipment. In addition, our front-line airfields have been destroyed by the Germans, and the reserve The airport is too far from the front line, so the air supremacy is basically in the hands of the Germans. In this case, launching a counterattack, I don't think there is a certainty of victory."
"Then you agree with Zhukov and the others?" Stalin asked noncommitantly after hearing this: "Are we really going to wait for the enemy Kharkov to gain a foothold before we have another major battle with them? ?"
"I think it is not appropriate for General Vatutin to make an offensive decision rashly when he has just taken over as the Voronezh Front and the troops below are not even familiar with it." I guess Stalin was hesitant. But in his heart he did not want to launch a counterattack that was not sure of victory, so he boldly said: "I suggest to you that Marshal Zhukov and General Vatutin inspect all the troops of the Voronezh Front, help the commanders of the various troops to estimate the situation, and Formulate future battle plans. I believe that through this inspection, Marshal Zhukov can compare the situation of the enemy and ours and prepare a new pre-plan for the battle plan."
After I said this, I immediately looked at Stalin intently, waiting for his comment on me. Stalin took a sip of his pipe, and then said: "Lida, your opinion is more appropriate. I will arrange Zhukov to inspect the troops immediately, and after I understand the enemy's situation, I will decide whether to launch a counterattack."
Hearing Stalin’s approval of my statement~lightnovelpub.net~ I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Before I was happy, he suddenly asked again: "Lida, tell me again, if the Germans are going to If the Kursk area occupied by our army launches an offensive, where should we build the main defensive area?"
Although I am not the roundworm in Manstein’s stomach, I remember the general process of the Kursk battle in history, so I replied confidently: "Comrade Stalin, I think we should deploy a heavy army group in the Prokhorovka area, because This is the barrier to the south of Kursk. The German army from Kharkov will definitely seize this place and turn it into a starting point for attacking Kursk."
"Yes, your analysis coincides with that of the General Staff." As soon as I finished speaking, Stalin agreed with my analysis. "Vasilevsky said, if the enemy and we really want If a war is launched in the direction of Kursk, then the Prokhorovka area will become the focus of contention between the enemy and the enemy."
After Stalin finished speaking, I said carefully: "Comrade Stalin, according to my judgment, although the German forces forced our Voronezh Front and Southwest Front to retreat, they did not have the ability to launch large-scale battles in the short term, so We have plenty of time to deploy troops, strengthen and improve our defense system." (to be continued)