It was not until the fourth day after the Soviet-German war began that General Basilov received a retreat order from Stalin himself, the headquarters, that he finally found some clues from sporadic intelligence.
His confused mind began to think clearly for the first time, and he probably figured out that the German rapid corps would be able to approach Minsk from the northwest and southwest in about 2 or 3 days and encircle the main force of the Western Front.
From this point of view, the 3rd and 10th armies fighting in the Bialystok salient were in a dangerous situation.
Only then did Pavlov truly realize that the problem now was not how to counterattack the German army, but how to avoid the imminent danger of total army annihilation.
The more he thought about it, the more frightened he felt, and bursts of cold sweat penetrated his clothes. Then, Pavlov looked at the military map again. Behind Minsk was almost a flat plain, and the German army could march straight into Smolensk and even Moscow.
If hundreds of thousands of troops are encircled from the Bialystok salient to Minsk, Moscow will completely lose its geographical and military barriers.
If something like that happens, Leader Stalin will kill himself!
"No! The troops must be withdrawn, at least to preserve the strength of these armies and stick to Minsk." Pavlov finally made the same retreat decision as Zhukov made a few days ago.
However, when Zhukov retreated his troops, he seemed to be relatively calm and leisurely, and was able to arrange for the rearguard troops to fight and retreat. It was not until Stalin replaced him with Timoshenko that the German army broke through.
As for Pavlov, he didn't withdraw at the beginning, but now it's difficult to withdraw.
After carefully studying the intelligence, Pavlov finally discovered that the German Marshal Bock's encirclement still left a 50 to 60 kilometers wide corridor in the direction of Minsk that had not been completely closed.
This might be an opportunity. Pavlov made up his mind, and he immediately called the Chief of Staff of the Front Army who was going with him to the headquarters of the 13th Army: "Sign an order for me immediately! Hurry!"
"Through the commanders of the 10th, 3rd and 4th Group Armies," in addition to the commander of Pavlov's own 13th Group Army, he greeted the commanders of the other three armies: "Today, that is, June
On the night of the 25th and 26th, each group army must start its strategic transition no later than 21:00. All units should be prepared to use tanks as the vanguard and cavalry and powerful anti-tank defense forces as the rearguard.
This march should be carried out day and night under the cover of a strong rear guard. It should throw off the enemy on a vast front... At least it should jump over 60 kilometers in one fell swoop day and night. By the way, all units are allowed
The tools of the local people were fully requisitioned, and any number of horses were recruited to draw the carts.”
It should be said that this order is clear and decisive, and there are no mistakes except for the mother-in-law who still has some Pavlovian characteristics.
It can be said that it is not easy for a mediocre mind to finally have a spark of wisdom because of the warning order sent by Stalin himself.
However, there was no problem with the retreat order, but the time it was issued was too late. Pavlov's previous mistakes had completely ruined the ability of each unit to execute this order.
The troops he mobilized for the counterattack were left without fuel and transport, having been captured or destroyed by the German enemy in the first days of the battle.
The chaotic retreat of the various corps that Pavlov now requires is still carried out under extremely difficult conditions when the German army has control of the air and the rapid corps is moving rapidly in roundabouts.
The unkind god of fate did not give Pavlov a chance to save himself or the Western Front. After finally issuing this only resolute and decisive order, Pavlov lost the battle against Bialystok and the others.
command of a group army.
He was not at the front army headquarters and had completely lost contact with all group armies.
June 26, Moscow Kremlin official.
The first deputy chief of the general staff, Vadutin, was giving Stalin a routine daily battlefield situation report, almost without exception, which was bad news. Before that, the previous chief general staff officer above Duvadin
At least the situation has never been this bad when Zhukov was here.
Stalin listened silently, almost everything was happening according to the worst-case scenario, and the panic and anxiety for several consecutive days had almost made him numb.
He originally thought that replacing Zhukov and replacing him with Pavlov, who had never been defeated, would give the battle a completely new look.
As a result, Pavlov had never been defeated in actual combat before, but this first and only failure was so defeating that Stalin could not accept it at all!
On the other side, Vadudin carefully considered his words and continued to report in a low voice: "The Western Front Army and the Northwest Front Army tried to counterattack, but the air cover was weak, the movements were uncoordinated, and the artillery support was poor. As a result, the expected results were not achieved, and the troops suffered huge losses.
, continue to retreat, and often in a messy retreat..."
Then, he added: "Those in a particularly difficult situation are the 3rd and 10th Army units. They have actually been surrounded. The German armored forces have actually approached Minsk and are about to complete the encirclement and seal the final gap."
Stalin, who had been silent just now, suddenly woke up from his meditation when he heard these words: "What did you say?! Approaching Minsk! Are you afraid that you made a mistake somewhere? Where did this come from?
news?"
"No... I'm not mistaken, Comrade Stalin." Vadudin's voice was still low, but he replied in an apologetic tone: "The report of the representative sent by the General Staff to the troops, and the aviation reconnaissance
The materials are consistent. It can be said that the front-line troops failed to stop the enemy at the national border and ensure the deployment of follow-up troops. The fronts on both wings of the Western Front have actually been broken through!
Although Stalin had realized that the battle on the border had failed a few days ago,
But how could the German troops penetrate 150 to 200 kilometers into the Soviet Union in five or six days? This is simply incomprehensible!
What did Pavlov, Kulik and Shaposhnikov eat?
Why doesn't the General Staff command the troops?
Minsk would be over as soon as Belarus was lost. He simply couldn't imagine the consequences!
Stalin hurriedly called the Western Front headquarters in person, but he could not find a general in charge there.
He threw the phone down angrily. After a while, he picked up the phone again: "Put me through the Southwest Front Army Headquarters...see General Zhukov."
On the side, Duvalin was looking at Stalin with a strange expression on his face. After a long time, he slowly reminded in a low voice: "Comrade Stalin, Zhukov... is no longer in the Southwest Front Army for a long time. He was imprisoned by you.
He was released from prison and was about to be sent to Siberia..."
