Burning Moscow

Chapter 1693 War is coming

Ma Lining deserves to be an excellent staff member. It only took a few minutes to draft a report. While Zhukov was browsing, I went over to see clearly what was written on it.

“1. Because the left wing of the Belarusian Second Front Army is too far away from the right wing of the Belarusian First Front Army, by the end of January 13, the width of our front army has reached 5oo kilometers.

2. If Marshal Rokosovsky’s left wing continues to stagnate, the enemy will undoubtedly take active actions against the overstretched right wing of the Belarusian First Front. Please order Rokosovsky to immediately dispatch the 7o Army to the west, even if it can be close to the rear echelon of the right wing of the Belarusian First Front.

3. Please instruct Marshal Konev to go to the Oder River quickly. ”

After reading it, Zhukov signed his name on the back without hesitation, and then handed it to Sokolovsky for him to sign it.

I thought he would directly order Malinen to report after Sokolovsky finished signing. Unexpectedly, after he took back the report from Sokolovsky, he put it in front of me, and said in an unquestionable tone: “Lida, sign your name too.”

“I also sign?” I have never experienced the signing of the report submitted to the Supreme High Command, so I thought Zhukov had made a mistake, so I pointed my nose with my finger and asked in amazement: “Comrade Marshal, Do I have to sign this report too?”

“Yes.” Zhukov nodded, and said impatiently: “You are the deputy commander of the front army. When such a report is submitted to the Supreme Command, as long as you are present, you must sign it. Don’t fudge, sign it quickly. Right.”

I took the pen that Ma Lining handed me and signed my name at the bottom of the report I just drafted. I didn’t seem to notice someone hurried in from outside.

I handed back the signed report to Zhukov and breathed a sigh of relief. Turning his head, he saw a major officer standing next to General Lu Duncan, whispering something.

Zhukov handed the report to Malinin, and at the same time ordered: “Chief of Staff, immediately send this report to the Supreme Command.”

Ma Lining took the document and immediately turned and left the command post, intending to go to the telegraph room next door to make a telegram. At this moment, Zhukov spotted an incompetent guest standing beside Lu Duncan, and asked sternly, “Who are you?”

Seeing that he had been spotted by Zhukov, the major quickly stopped talking with Lu Duncan, straightened his body on the spot, facing Zhukov without saying a word.

Seeing that the major did not answer his question, Zhukov was a little annoyed. He raised his voice and asked, “Who are you? Why did you break into the room where the senior leader was in a meeting without permission?”

I stared at the frightened young major and muttered to myself: “Who is he? Don’t you know that the commander of the front and several commanders of the group army are holding an important meeting?”

Luckily, Lu Duncan helped the major in time: “Comrade Marshal, please forgive me. This is the combat staff of our Air Force. He has important information to report to me, so he broke in with an exception.”

“Combat staff,” Zhukov looked up and down the major, his tone became more relaxed: “Let’s talk about what kind of important information you got that you dare to break into our meeting room directly.”

“Comrade Marshal,” the major stepped forward and reported with full air: “According to Air Force reconnaissance, a large number of German tanks and motorized troops are being mobilized in Pomerania.”

“What kind of troops does the enemy have?” Zhukov asked with a calm expression.

“According to the reconnaissance plane’s report, the enemy’s armored column is ten kilometers long.” The major replied, straightening his body, “I felt it necessary to report this information to the commander immediately, so I rushed over.”

“I see, Comrade Major.” Zhu Kefu waved his hand at the Major. “There is nothing for you here. Go out first.”

After the staff went out, Zhukov walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking about countermeasures in his heart. Ma Lining, who had just walked in, saw Zhukov was pacing, and did not dare to interrupt, so he stood beside him honestly.

Zhukov accidentally raised his head and saw Malinin standing in front of him. He stopped and said to him: “Comrade Chief of Staff, you are here at the right time. The Air Force reported that there are now a large number of tanks and motorized troops in the German army. Do you have any relevant information on the transfer of the Pomerania area?”

“Comrade Marshal,” Malinin replied slowly, “I also just got this information, and I am preparing to report it to you. Since the Air Force cannot accurately understand the enemy’s strength, I have ordered the reconnaissance units of the front army to dispatch. If you fly to that area for reconnaissance, I believe you can get general information by tonight at the latest.”

I know very well that Malinin’s words have left room. Because Rokosovsky’s troops are too far away from us, in order to ensure the safety of the right wing, the reconnaissance department has already sent scouts to carry out uninterrupted execution in that area Reconnaissance mission. Regarding the movement of German troops in the Pomerania area, I estimate that as long as Malinin interrogates, at most one or two hours will be able to obtain definite information.

After listening to Malinin, Zhukov said to the rest of the commanders: “Well, comrades generals, let’s stop here. I will call you again when necessary.”

The commanders of the three army groups left, as did Lu Duncan, Galazav and others. Only Zhukov, Sokolovsky, Malinin and myself remained in the house. At this time Zhukov asked, “You tell me, what are the German forces going to do with a large number of troops in the Bermelania area?”

“Does this still need to be said,” Sokolovsky said first: “The enemy’s gathering of so many tanks and motorized troops on the right flank of our army will definitely not be to stop Marshal Rokosovsky. The troops are advancing to the west, but are preparing to counter assault from the north and hit the right wing of our army severely.”

“I think so too.” Zhukov nodded and said: “We must first figure out what kind of force the enemy is, and then decide what method to use to smash their offensive.”

I quietly listened to Zhukov and two colleagues talking about the situation in the Pomerania region, without interrupting casually, because I realized the history that I knew, and again, there was an inevitable deviation because of me. Whether the German army, which is still in the Ardennes and the Allied forces inextricably fought, can still gather 16 infantry divisions and seven tank divisions in Pomerania, as in history, has become an unknown.

By four o’clock in the afternoon, Malinen received a report from Pomerania. He immediately reported to Zhukov: “Comrade Marshal, according to our scout report, the enemy’s 2nd and 11th Army in the Pomerania area has increased to ten infantry divisions and three tank divisions. The right wing of our army attacked.”

I heard that the German army had only 13 divisions, and that there were four tank divisions less than in history. My mood suddenly became more relaxed. To deal with such an enemy, as long as the 1st Group Army of Katukov’s Guards Tank is transferred up, the enemy can be easily beaten to a halt.

After listening to the report, Zhukov immediately told Malinin: “Call General Katukov, and I will give him combat orders.”

Malinin agreed, walked to the phone behind Zhukov, picked up the receiver and called Katukov.

Zhukov looked at me and Sokolovsky and asked, “How do you think we should deal with the enemy?”

Sokolovsky and Zhukov finished speaking, and immediately replied: “I suggest that General Katukov’s 1st Guard Tank Army and Berzalin’s 5th Assault Army should be transferred to Pomerani. In the Asian region, go to smash the German counter-assault.”

Zhukov nodded after hearing this, then turned his gaze to me, and asked, “Lida, what do you think?”

“If we move a tank army and an assault army from the Oder River area at once, our strength in this area will become weak.” I talked about my views on Sokolovsky’s proposal. : “If the German forces counter assault from the west at this time, then the defensive position we established along the Oder River may be lost. We must know that the capture of Berlin is our main task.”

“Lida, please tell me your thoughts,” Zhukov said, a little displeased after listening to me telling the situation so badly: “How do you think we should deal with the enemies of Pomerania.”

“At present, the 61st, 69th and Polish 1st Army of our army are advancing towards the Oder River. We can ask General Katukov to transfer his defensive zone on the Oder River to the newly arrived troops. , And then the whole army turned north and rushed to Pomerania to smash the German counter-assault.”

“Comrade Marshal, I think Lida makes a lot of sense.” As soon as I finished speaking, Malinen echoed: “The strength of the German army today cannot be compared to 41 years. Our tank army is enough to crush them. The counter assault from the thirteen divisions.”

Zhukov opened his mouth, and when he was about to speak, he saw Katukov stepping in.

Katukov walked up to Zhukov and asked, “Comrade Marshal, did you call me here to attack Berlin? Don’t worry, I only need two troops for seventy kilometers. You can be there day and night.”

“We will not attack Berlin for the time being.” Zhukov looked up at Katukov and said: “At the morning meeting, we made the decision not to attack Berlin for the time being. Did you forget?”

“I haven’t forgotten.” After giving Zhukov a negative answer, Katukov asked tentatively: “You called me, is it because of Pomerania?”

“Yes, Comrade Katukov, you guessed it right.” Zhukov nodded and said: “According to the latest information we have obtained, the Germans have assembled 13 divisions in Pomerania, three of them It’s a tank division. If you were Guderian, what measures would you take to deal with our army?”

Katukov tilted his head and thought for a while, and then replied: “If I were to command this force, I would attack from the north to the weak right wing of the Belarusian First Front to cut off the front to the Oder River. The troops of the United States will indefinitely postpone the time for your attack on Berlin.”

“The analysis is correct. I guess Guderian considered it the same way.” After Zhukov said this sentence, he began to give orders to Katukov: Stirling made 6 games, handed over to the neighboring troops, and then immediately turned around and headed north, using a rapid march to advance towards Anzwad in Pomerania!”

“Yes!” After Katukov replied loudly, he turned and walked out of the command post.

Looking at the back of Katukov’s departure, Sokolovsky said with some worry: “Comrade Marshal, just sending General Katukov’s tank army northward to meet the 13 German divisions, isn’t it a bit? Too risky?”

“No, Comrade Sokolovsky.” In response to Sokolovsky’s concerns, Zhukov waved his hand and said confidently: “General Katukov is a very good commander. During the defense of Moscow, he used an incomplete tank brigade to severely damage the German armored forces in the Mtzensk region. Now he is commanding an elite tank army to smash the offensive of more than a dozen German divisions. There should be no What a big problem. Moreover, Rokosovsky’s troops are just east of Pomerania, and they can provide the necessary support to Katukov at any time.”

“Well, right-wing enemies, we have arranged people to deal with them.” Zhukov sat down at the table again, patted the map in front of us with his hands and said to us: “Next, we should study How to solve the enemy between the Oder River and Berlin. What is blocking our way is the German Zerauf Heights, where the enemy has established a perfect defense in depth, facing the continuous construction of this fortification. In the fortified area, we can only adopt a forceful attack to eliminate the enemies in this area and open the way to Berlin.”

After I waited patiently for Zhukov to finish speaking, I asked tentatively: “Comrade Marshal, when do you plan to attack the Zerauf Heights?”

“Because we have to wait for the follow-up troops to arrive, and to replenish soldiers and military supplies, it will take a lot of time.” Zhukov said slowly: “The offensive will begin in late February.”

“Comrade Marshal,” I euphemistically expressed my opinion about Zhukov’s plan: “Germany was in the season of melting snow at the end of February, and the muddy roads. For our army that needs a lot of technical equipment to participate in the war, It is a big trouble that is difficult to overcome. If the German army resists stubbornly, our offensive troops may be trapped in this area.”

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