Burning Moscow

Chapter 1665 New Year Offensive (1)

In the upcoming New Year’s offensive, Cuikov’s Eighth Guards Army will be the first to fight, so he received special attention from Zhukov during the period before the start of the battle. Even if he called twice a day in the morning and evening to report on the preparations, Zhukov would still call from time to time to learn some details of offensive preparations.

On the two days of December 24 and 25, the Germans who had suffered a lot from us many times entered a state of high alert, fearing that we would use the chance of Christmas in the West to launch surprise attacks on them.

After learning about this situation, Zhukov smiled and said to me: “Lida, it seems that you may also be inaccurate. If we really follow your idea and launch an offensive against the Germans at Christmas today, we will definitely It will be hit head-on by the Germans who are already ready to fight, causing huge casualties to the troops.”

“Comrade Marshal,” hearing Zhukov’s kind criticism, I replied with some embarrassment: “Maybe the Germans have suffered too much from us, so they have become more cautious. You must know that when they were in Stalingrad. It was on Christmas Day that I commanded the troops to attack the enemy and beat them to a loss of armor and armor.”

“The enemy is very cunning. They are not reconciled to their failure, so they will do everything possible to deal with us.” Zhukov summed up the characteristics of the German army, then turned to Malinin and said: “The Chief of Staff, call Cui Koff and order him to send someone. Closely monitor the movements of the German forces, and report to me as soon as the enemy’s defenses are slack!”

After hearing this, Ma Lining grinned and kindly reminded Zhukov: “Comrade Marshal, you just called General Cuikov half an hour ago and learned about the enemy situation there. So I think I should wait, it’s better to wait until the evening. At that time, call Cui Kefu again, and then you will be able to figure out the true movements of the Germans.”

In the evening, Cui Kefu took the initiative to call Zhukov to report: “Comrade Marshal, according to my observation post, the enemy’s troops deployed in the first line of defense showed signs of moving backward.”

After listening to Cui Kefu’s report, Zhukov asked tentatively: “Comrade Cui Kefu, are you sure that the enemy is retreating to the rear?”

“Yes, Comrade Marshal.” Cui Kefu said affirmatively: “The observation post can see clearly that the forces and technical equipment deployed on the first line of defense two days ago are shifting to the rear.”

After listening to Cui Koff’s report, Zhukov’s face showed a smile: “Okay, Comrade Cui Koff, I understand. The Germans did not realize that our army was about to launch an attack on them, and they have strengthened their forces on the first line of defense in the past two days. It was just to prevent our army from attacking them on Christmas in the West.”

After Zhu Kefu finished speaking, Cui Kefu asked respectfully: “Comrade Marshal, what instructions do you have?”

“Instructions, there must be.” Zhukov said into the microphone with a smile on his face: “Let the logistics department of your group army make dumplings for the soldiers, so that everyone can eat Siberian dumplings before the new year. Understand?”

“Understood, Comrade Marshal.” Cui Kefu also smiled and replied: “The logistics department has not only prepared Siberian dumplings for the soldiers, but also a lot of coffee, chocolate and cigarettes. Now that you have spoken, then Immediately instruct the logistics department to distribute these New Year gifts to the soldiers.”

Zhukov seems to have a new idea at this time: “Comrade Cuikov, I think that in addition to the ones just mentioned, in the New Year gifts you distributed to the soldiers, you will finally send some champagne. At least one bottle of each class must be guaranteed. We want to create an illusion for the enemy that we are preparing for the New Year and have no intention of attacking them, so as to paralyze them and make them relax their vigilance.”

“This is a good way.” Cui Kefu said happily: “I think the commanders will be happy to know that there are New Year gifts, Comrade Marshal, I would like to thank you on their behalf.”

In the next two days, the enemy on the front of Magnusev’s landing site saw our commanders and fighters celebrating activities, thinking that we were preparing for the New Year, and the defense became more and more slack.

At three o’clock in the morning on the 29th, Cui Kefu called Zhukov from the front and reported to him: “Comrade Marshal, the offensive forces have been assembled and are ready to go into battle.”

Zhukov raised his hand to look at his watch, then looked out the window, and asked into the microphone: “Comrade Cuikov, there are still three and a half hours before the bombardment preparations before the attack, what’s the weather like in your place?”

“There are no stars and no moon in the sky.” Cui Kefu replied, “Fog is beginning to form in the forest. I don’t know if there will be thick fog in the entire battlefield later.”

Hearing that the forest had fogged up, Malinin was the first to be shocked. He anxiously said to Zhukov: “Comrade Marshal, the thousands of planes of the Air Force parked at the airport have been bombed, and they are ready to go into battle at any time. If it’s foggy, they won’t be able to participate in the battle.”

Zhukov waved his hand at Malinin, interrupting the words behind him. But he himself continued to tell Cui Koff: “Comrade Cui Koff, immediately order the engineers to clear mines in front of the trenches of our army, and at the same time open up a passage for troops to pass in the minefields in front of the German fortifications. Also, before the artillery fire is ready to begin. For an hour, breakfast was distributed to the commanders and fighters who participated in the war, so that everyone can participate in the battle when they are full.”

Two minutes before half past six in the morning, Cui Kefu called again and he reported to Zhukov: “Comrade Marshal, there has been a heavy fog in the area where we are attacking. Because the fog is too thick, it is ten meters away. , I can’t see everything clearly.”

“I understand.” After listening to the other party’s report, Zhukov gave directly after some thoughts: “The artillery fire preparations before the attack are carried out on time However, the air force is temporarily unable to participate in the battle because of the dense fog. , So your offense can only be done with infantry and tanks, understand?”

“Understood, Comrade Marshal.” Cui Kefu replied loudly, “I will give the artillery an order to fire immediately!”

Zhukov put his hands on the phone and sighed to the sky, then said: “I hope this **** fog will not let our offensive fail.”

“Don’t worry, Comrade Marshal.” Seeing Zhukov’s troubles, I quickly comforted him: “General Cuikov’s offensive front is seven kilometers, and the density of artillery has reached an astonishing 282. Even without the support of the air force, I believe They can also successfully break through the German defense.”

Zhukov heard what I said, turned and stared at me for a while, nodded, and slowly said: “Lida, I hope you are right. As long as we can successfully break through the German defense, the next battle will be Good fight.”

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