Burning Moscow

Chapter 1691 Disagreement

Trikov’s troops rested in Poznan for one night, and early the next morning, they began to move towards the Oder River.

The armored vehicle that Cui Kefu and I were riding in marched among the marching troops. Driving in front was a broadcasting car, and the sound from the horn kept drifting into our car. “Comrades, we are about to enter Germany under Hitler’s rule. We all know that the Germans have brought serious disasters to our motherland, and we will soon set foot on their territory to punish them…. But we must first Realize that it was Hitler’s fascists who started the war. The ordinary German people are the victims of the war just like our people. Any behavior that is inconsistent with the title of the Red Army soldier and unreasonable violations of the German people will be severely punished. ,…Anyone who commits robbery and rape, the picket has the right to kill on the spot…”

After listening to the order signed by Pronin and I, Cui Kefu nodded and said, “Lida, it’s a good writing. I hope our troops can avoid the kind in East Prussia after entering Berlin. Brutality.”

After hearing what Cui Kefu said, I didn’t speak, but smiled politely. I thought to myself: In real history, the Soviet Command also issued similar orders, but the effect was very limited. Except for Berlin, the hardest-hit area, other cities occupied by the Soviet army have experienced various degrees of burning, killing and looting.

Chief of Staff Vladimirov said with a smile: “Comrade Commander, our troops are only 70 kilometers away from Berlin. As long as we strike a powerful blow against the Germans, our troops can rush into Berlin.”

Regarding the current situation, Cuikov is obviously not as optimistic as his chief of staff. He shook his head and said: “Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is not as simple as you think. Although we successfully liberated Poznan, we are behind us. We must set aside enough troops to destroy these enemies in places like Snydmühle, Arnswald, Blaislau, Glogo, Thorne and other places as well as the German fortresses.”

“General Cui Koff is right,” I waited for Cui Koff to finish, and immediately echoed: “If we don’t clear the German fortresses in these defense areas, then we must leave enough troops to deal with these enemies. This way. Come, our power to attack Berlin will be greatly weakened.

Our army’s offensive campaign this time was a sudden move by taking advantage of the favorable timing of the German army to concentrate its forces on the western front and carry out a counter-assault against the Allied forces. Our troops advanced 500 kilometers on a front that was 500 kilometers wide in three weeks. The combat power displayed by our army frightened Hitler. He hurriedly withdrew his troops from the Ardennes area to strengthen the defense in the direction of Berlin. ”

“Hitler withdrew from the Ardennes at this time,” Vladimirov frowned and asked, “Aren’t you worried that the Allied forces will take the opportunity to counterattack them?”

“The Allied forces have just been hit hard by the Germans. Even if they counterattack, they can return to the pre-battle posture, it is pretty good.” I explained to Vladimirov: “If they want to continue to advance to Berlin It will take time to regroup the troops. The most important thing is that they are more than 600 kilometers away from Berlin, and we are only 70 kilometers away. If you were Hitler, where would you focus your defense?”

“It’s just a matter of saying, of course, it is placed on the east side of Berlin to block our army’s offensive.” After Vladimirov said these words without hesitation, he asked me tentatively: “The Germans transferred all the troops. When it gets to the east, will they leave it alone in the west?”

I was considering whether I should tell them that someone at the top of the German army tried to make peace with the Allied forces, but I heard Cui Koff snorted and said: “I think that after the Germans have suffered a loss with the Allies, it may be open to the Germans. The road to Berlin, and concentrate all efforts on us.”

Vladimirov’s words made Vladimirov even more puzzled: “If the Allied forces arrive in Berlin, then the Germans can’t escape the fate of destruction. Are they so stupid?”

“This is not a question of whether they are stupid or not, but what kind of foreign policy they adopt.” As a political worker, Pronin is particularly sensitive to this kind of political affair. After listening to what Cui Kefu said, he immediately expressed his opinion. Own view: “For them, the Soviets are scourges, while British and American capitalism is their potential allies. Therefore, they will desperately resist our army’s offensive and deliberately open the way to Berlin for the allies.”

After listening to the conversation between Trikov and Pronin, I couldn’t help showing a look of surprise on my face. The reason why I know that the Germans will open the way to Berlin to the Allied forces is because what is about to happen is a known history to me, and Cui Koff and the two of them can be roughly based on some clues. Judging the measures that the Germans might take, it seems that I really underestimated their abilities.

After five or six hours of bumps and bumps on the road, we finally arrived at Katukov’s headquarters. He was overjoyed when he saw our arrival. He hurriedly shook hands with Cui Kefu and said happily: “Comrade Cui Kefu, we are looking forward to you. With your support, our tanks can continue to move forward.”

When shaking hands with me, he whispered to me: “Lida, Marshal Zhukov once called here to find you. Give him a call when you have time.”

I thought Zhukov was looking for me in order to get me to meet him in Lodz as soon as possible. After the call was put through, Zhukov, after finding out where I was, said: “Lida, now I’m putting Cuikov with him. Katukov and the units of the 5th Army are under your command. You immediately prepare for all battles. Once I reach the Oder River, I will immediately attack Berlin.”

Although the current situation is very good, after more than half a month of continuous combat, the commanders and fighters have become exhausted. If the attack continues, our army’s combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. Thinking of this, I asked carefully: “Comrade Marshal, can I raise an objection?”

“Objection?” Zhukov heard me say this, and said somewhat displeased: “What objection?”

“According to what I know, the left-wing Marshal Konev’s troops were stubbornly defended by the Germans in the south, and the right-wing situation is not very good either. Marshal Rokosovsky’s troops are 15o kilometers away from us.” Solemnly said to Zhukov: “The current position of our front army is too prominent. Once the main force of the German army detours to the two wings of our army, we are in danger of being encircled by the German army. I think we should stop temporarily and wait for the superiors. After the additional soldiers and various military materials arrive, they will continue to advance to Berlin.”

“No,” Zhukov denied my suggestion without hesitation: “Time is precious to both the enemy and us. If we don’t continue to attack the Germans before they recover, once they build it After we have a deep defense system, we will pay huge casualties when we attack again. I will inspect the Oder River tomorrow. Before that, you must be prepared for all attacks. Understand?”

Seeing Zhukov behaved so tough, I could only bite the bullet and replied: “Understood, Comrade Marshal.”

I put down the phone, and Katukov immediately asked: “Lida, what did Comrade Marshal say?”

“The Marshal ordered us to be ready to attack, ready to attack Berlin at any time.” Hearing what I said, some people were happy and some were worried. Those who are happy are all lower-level staff officers and the like, but after Katukov, Trikov and others listened, they couldn’t help frowning.

“Comrade Katukov, how did you think about it?” Trikov asked, looking at Katukov.

Hearing this question, Katukov smiled bitterly and said: “General Cuikov, you should understand that our troops have advanced 500 kilometers in three weeks, and most tanks need to be repaired before they can be put into operation. Combat. How can the infantry not have the support of tanks, if they want to break through the layers of defense of the German army, even if they make huge sacrifices, they may not succeed.

“Then what to do?” Cui Kefu said embarrassedly: “Marshal Zhukov is a stubborn person. No one can change the things he decides.”

I also feel helpless about the disagreement between Zhukov and Zhukov. I can’t give Stalin a small report, saying that the time for attacking Berlin is not ripe, so we should switch to the defense on the spot, and wait until enough soldiers and materials are added before attacking Berlin, right?

Seeing that everyone is looking at me, I can only say perfunctorily: “General Cui Kefu, you go and set up your headquarters We will discuss this matter until the evening.”

In the evening, I gathered Katukov, Trikov, and Berzalin in the headquarters of Katukov for a temporary military meeting. After I conveyed Zhukov’s order to everyone again, I said: “Comrades, the current situation of our army is very clear to everyone. Marshal Zhukov prepared us for the offensive and plans to attack Berlin in the near future. .”

“The situation is very bad, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army.” It was Berzalin who prefaced him. He frowned and said: “After three weeks of fighting, our troops have been reduced very seriously. Most of the divisions are left. Bottom 50% of the soldiers, and many of them are wounded. With such strength, it is impossible to break through the German defense to attack Berlin.”

Katukov and Trikov expressed the same views. Seeing that the views of the three commanders of the group army were exactly the same, I also had a spectrum in my heart. Since everyone thinks that now is not the best time to attack, I will wait for Zhukov to come tomorrow. When the time comes, I will have a good talk with him again to see if he can change his mind.

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