News of the failure of the Stalingrad Front's offensive quickly reached Stalin's ears, and he immediately contacted Zhukov, who was staying near Stalingrad, through a high-frequency phone.
He asked Zhukov in a stern tone on the phone: "Comrade Zhukov, why did the offensive of Rokossovsky's troops stop? Are you planning to hand Stalingrad into the hands of the Germans?"
Facing Stalin's accusation, Zhukov replied calmly: "Comrade Stalin, judging from the current situation, with the existing strength of the Stalingrad Front, it is impossible to break through the German defense line and join forces with the Southeast Front in the city. Because the German army
More troops have been transferred from other areas to strengthen the troops in the fighting area. It is useless to continue the attack with our existing troops and deployment, and it will cause the troops to suffer huge casualties..."
After Stalin patiently listened to Zhukov's words, he asked into the microphone: "Comrade Zhukov, if the base camp replenishes your troops, can the offensive continue?"
"Comrade Stalin, it is completely necessary to replenish the troops." Zhukov replied respectfully: "However, the enemy's strength has exceeded our imagination, so it is difficult to achieve the desired results by relying solely on an army-level attack.
We need to replenish our troops, technical equipment, and readjust our deployment to implement a powerful assault on the scale of the front army and completely crush the enemy's siege of Stalingrad."
After hearing this, Stalin put the microphone on the table, took out two cigarettes from the cigarette case, crushed them with his fingers, and stuffed the tobacco into the pipe. He slowly lit the pipe, and after taking two puffs,
He picked up the microphone again and put it to his ear and said: "Comrade Zhukov, I think some of the issues you mentioned are worthy of further discussion. You should immediately fly back to Moscow and give me a detailed explanation of the current situation in person.
report."
Zhukov raised his hand to look at his watch and said expressionlessly: "Comrade Stalin, my plane will take off in half an hour. I can arrive at your office in three hours at most."
"Very good," Stalin said with satisfaction at Zhukov's answer: "I will arrange for someone to pick you up at the airport."
Stalin did not waste the time Zhukov was on the road. He called Chief of General Staff Vasilevsky to his office and said to him: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, Zhukov will be with me in a few hours."
Here, report on the situation in Stalingrad. Before he comes, tell me how you view the situation in the Stalingrad area."
…………
When Zhukov rushed to Stalin's office, Vasilevsky had already finished reporting his views on the situation in the Stalingrad area. Seeing Zhukov enter, Stalin immediately extended his hand to him and said friendly: "Comrade Zhukov, thank you for your hard work!
"
"Hello, Comrade Stalin!"
"It's long past dinner time. I think you must be hungry." After Stalin said these words, he quickly walked to the door, opened the door and rushed to Poskrebyshev who was sitting outside and whispered a few instructions.
, then returned to the room and said to Zhukov: "You take a rest first, eat something, and we will talk slowly."
Poskrebyshev moved very quickly. After just a few minutes, he walked in from the outside with a pot of tea and a plate of bread on a tray. At Stalin's signal, he walked to the conference table.
, placed everything in the tray in front of Zhukov, and then quietly retreated out.
Zhukov quickly wiped out the bread on the plate, took two more sips of tea, then stood up and pointed to the map on the wall, and asked in a polite tone: "Can I use this map?"
After getting Stalin's permission, he quickly came to the map, picked up the explanation stick leaning on the side, and began to explain to Stalin and Vasilevsky: "...the troops currently assembled in the north of Stalingrad,
Whether it is Rokossovsky's troops, the 24th, 66th Army and the 1st Guards Army, they are all very combat-effective units in our army. The reason why they have been unable to make progress is mainly because they lack enough
technical equipment, artillery and tank troops to directly support the infantry attack, and a sufficient number of aircraft."
Zhukov drew a circle on the north side of Stalingrad with his explanatory stick, struck it hard twice, and then continued: "To the north and west of the city, the terrain is open, but there are some canyons, which provide the enemy with good openings.
The cover caused inconvenience to our offensive. At the same time, the enemy occupied many commanding heights outside the city and placed artillery observers on them. In this way, they could call in artillery fire at any time to bombard our attacking troops...
…”
"Comrade Zhukov, our intention to break through the German defenses and join forces with the Southeast Front in the city was shattered by the Germans." Stalin frowned and asked: "Tell me, what kind of help do we need to provide to the Stalingrad Front? They
Is it possible to break through the enemy's defense?"
Upon hearing Stalin's question, Zhukov put down his explanation stick and replied with a serious expression: "Comrade Stalin, if we want to effectively break through the enemy's defenses and join the defenders in the city, we need at least a full group army and a tank corps.
, three tank brigades and at least four hundred artillery pieces. In order to seize air superiority on the battlefield, at least one air force group must also be strengthened."
"The group army and tank troops can reach the north of Stalingrad within half a month." Regarding Zhukov's request, Stalin said thoughtfully: "But the air force may be a little difficult."
"Why?" Zhukov's question blurted out as soon as Stalin finished speaking.
Stalin did not answer his question immediately, but turned his attention to Vasilevsky aside: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, it's up to you to answer this question."
Vasilevsky nodded, took two steps forward, faced Zhukov and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, there has been a large-scale rat infestation in the air force, which has prevented most of our air force from taking off for combat.
"
"Rat infestation?!" When Zhukov heard what Vasilevsky said, he couldn't help showing an expression of astonishment on his face: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, I don't understand why the rat infestation prevents our air force from taking off for combat?"
"That's right, Comrade Deputy Commander-in-Chief." Vasilevsky replied with a grimace: "A large number of rats got into the interior of the aircraft and chewed up various insulated wires, making our aircraft unusable. Moreover, there are many
A young ace pilot has been infected with cholera and is now being treated in a field hospital."
Zhukov never dreamed that tiny mice would actually cause the Soviet Air Force to lose its combat effectiveness. He was silent for a long time and then asked: "Isn't there any way our Air Force can eliminate these damn mice in a short time?"
Vasilevsky spread his hands and said helplessly: "We have taken necessary measures to try to eliminate these rat infestations, but even if we eliminate all the rats, we still need to spend a lot of time on each aircraft.
The aircraft will be inspected to see if it can be used normally."
Zhukov felt particularly disappointed when he learned that he would not be able to receive support from a large number of air forces in a short period of time. He knew very well that if he could not control the air superiority on the battlefield, it would be very unrealistic to defeat the enemy. Even if his own side had the advantage in military strength, it would be very unrealistic.
But facing the German air force will only pay a more painful price.
Stalin did not speak, but stared intently at the map in front of him. In order not to disturb Stalin's thinking, Vasilevsky took Zhukov to a place a little further away and whispered: "It seems that we need to find him as soon as possible."
A solution to the problem comes out.”
Although the two men were standing a little far away from Stalin and their voices were very low, Stalin still heard Vasilevsky's words and immediately turned around and asked: "How do you plan to solve the problem?"
Seeing that Stalin heard their conversation, Zhukov and Vasilevsky returned to the conference table, stood upright in front of Stalin, and waited for him to say the next words. Stalin took the pipe out of his mouth and held it in his hand.
Pointing at the two of them with his hand, he said: "Let's go to the General Staff Headquarters and discuss what measures should be taken in the Stalingrad area and where troops can be mobilized to improve the situation in the Stalingrad area.
.I will be waiting for news from you here at eight o'clock tomorrow night."
Zhukov and Vasilevsky agreed, turned around and prepared to walk out of the office. Unexpectedly, Zhukov's hand had just touched the door handle when he suddenly heard Stalin say from behind: "Comrade Zhukov, I heard that Rokossovsky
After one of the troops broke through the German defenses, Chuikov once sent a troop to the north to respond. It is said that the commander of this troop was Xiao Misha, is it true?"
If Stalin had not raised this question, Zhukov had almost forgotten Sokov. When he heard Stalin emphatically asking about this matter, he quickly turned around and replied: "Yes, Comrade Stalin. According to Chuikov's report, he asked Sokov
Lieutenant Colonel Hu led a force of 200 people and went north to Orlovka to meet the friendly forces that had broken through the German defense line. But unfortunately, when this force arrived at Orlovka, the tanks that broke through the German defense line
The 67th Brigade had been completely wiped out by the Germans during the march, making it impossible for them to complete the task of joining forces."
"I heard that Xiao Misha performed very bravely in the battle," Stalin then asked: "He personally led his men to blow up five German tanks and was injured, right?"
When Vasilevsky heard that Sokov led his men to blow up five tanks, a look of surprise flashed across his face. However, Zhukov did not know the question Stalin asked. He said with some embarrassment: "I'm sorry.
Comrade Stalin, I don’t know much about this matter. If you want to know more, I will call Khrushchev later and he should know about it.”
"No need." Stalin waved his hand to Zhukov and said, "You don't need to call. I will know the specific situation in a few days. You can go and do business."
After Zhukov and Vasilevsky came to the corridor, they asked in a low voice: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, why did Comrade Stalin say that he would be able to know the details of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov in a few days? Do you have anything else?"
News channel?”
"Comrade Zhukov," since it was not a formal occasion, Vasilevsky did not call Zhukov deputy commander again. He said in a low voice: "Yesterday Yakov personally led a team and escorted a batch of new weapons to Stalingrad.
He will know exactly what Lieutenant Colonel Cove experienced during this northward movement."
"New weapons, what new weapons?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "Why haven't I heard about any new weapons being developed recently?"
"It's a long story." Vasilevsky walked forward along the long corridor and said to Zhukov: "What this new weapon is, I have never seen it. It is said to be the Sokov medium
Developed by Xiao and Yakov."
Listening to what Vasilevsky said, Zhukov vaguely remembered that he had disappeared for a while in Sokov and Yakov, presumably because of this new weapon. Since Vasilevsky did not know about this new weapon
If he continued to ask questions, he would not get an ideal answer, so he took the initiative to change the topic: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, Comrade Stalin asked us to designate a plan to reverse the situation in the Stalingrad area. What do you have
Any ideas?”
Regarding Zhukov's question, Vasilevsky did not answer immediately, but asked: "Comrade Zhukov, do you have any good ideas?"
"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," seeing that Vasilevsky was unwilling to express his opinions casually, Zhukov did not talk in circles, but said bluntly: "I am considering whether it is necessary for our army to implement a military operation in the Stalingrad area.
An offensive campaign is necessary.”
"Offensive campaign?" Vasilevsky asked in surprise: "Comrade Zhukov, what kind of troops do you plan to use to complete the offensive campaign you imagined?"
Zhukov looked left and right. Although there were only two of them in the entire long corridor, he still did not want to casually talk about his offensive battle plan on this occasion, so he said to Vasilevsky:
"Comrade Chief of General Staff, this is not the place to talk. Let's go to your office to discuss the feasibility of a large-scale offensive campaign."
"Please come with me, Comrade Zhukov." Seeing Zhukov saying these words so solemnly, Vasilevsky also said seriously: "Only after understanding the current situation of both the enemy and ourselves can it be possible to formulate a plan
To come up with an accurate attack plan, the General Staff should have a staff officer on duty. I think he can provide us with all the information we need for this plan."
