The German army attributed the failure to capture Moscow to the cold weather in Russia.
Indeed, when the defense war entered the winter, the entire huge battlefield suddenly experienced low temperatures exceeding minus 30 degrees in individual areas, but that was only in insignificant local areas. When the German army learned of this low temperature, they immediately felt overwhelmed.
An excuse was found for the forced retreat.
The situation was not that bad. The atmosphere at that time was indeed very low, with temperatures generally reaching minus ten degrees Celsius at night. At such low temperatures, the German tanks and armored vehicles were still able to start operations by heating key parts. Although there was a serious lack of cold-proof clothing for a while, by plundering Smoleng
The property of Soviet citizens in Sksk and surrounding areas, the severe cold was no longer an obstacle to the German army's operations. Of course, as a result, more than one million Soviet citizens froze to death in this winter.
The biggest reason for the failure of the German offensive was that they had become exhausted. The German army occupied Smolensk, and its fragile logistics line was able to transport a large amount of supplies here, and it was difficult to continue to try to transport it eastward.
Entering the outskirts of Moscow, with his naked eyes, Yang Mingzhi had already seen a large number of fortifications.
Today, the German army is no longer able to threaten Moscow on land, and a large number of facilities to resist tank attacks have been dismantled, but a large number of air defense facilities have been constructed.
Finally entering the city, there were not many pedestrians on the street. Considering that Moscow is actually a very large city, with millions of citizens and the garrison now included, the total population is less than one million. In this case, the city seems a bit empty.
It makes sense.
The population has dropped, the entire alliance has adopted a wartime rationing system, and the economic activities that were originally relatively limited under the Soviet system are now even more sluggish. Those state-owned stores still have open signs, and as for customers, there are still people queuing up, but the number is not the same.
many.
As a Chinese, when you go to a new city, isn't it natural for you to buy some local products? Even if the city is very depressed, you are here and you shouldn't not buy something. Yang Mingzhi intended to take a look at these shops, but he
Many things must be resolved before your long-cherished wish can be realized.
His eyes noticed many strange-looking armored trucks. Nowadays, the armor of trucks is very thin and can only resist ordinary machine gun bullets.
There are so many of them that they are everywhere!
They are very special anti-aircraft vehicles. Each vehicle is responsible for towing a deflation balloon. A strong and lightweight cable controls a hydrogen balloon with a diameter of five meters. The balloon is controlled by the electric winch of the armored vehicle, and the height is controlled on command.
A large number of trucks release a large number of air balloons, and the white balloons form a white cloud. In the city, they have blocked some of the sunshine.
"Comrade Captain! The city's air defense work has gone too far. Today was supposed to be a sunny day, but it turned out to be cloudy!" Yang Mingzhi said jokingly.
"There is nothing we can do, Comrade General. More than ten days ago, the German army air raided the city again. The leader gave an order to the Moscow Air Defense Commander. If the enemy succeeds again, the person in charge will be punished."
"be punished?"
"Yes! They will be investigated by our Ministry of Internal Affairs and even go to military court. Look at those guys from the air defense force. Soon the city will be filled with vehicles, and the sky will be filled with balloons, even blocking out the sun.
Already."
Listening to his complaints, Yang Mingzhi couldn't help but feel happy.
"Now, are we arriving at your headquarters building soon?"
"Yes! After three more intersections, we will arrive at Red Square. Comrade General, welcome to the center of the Great Alliance. I hope you will not be confused by the scenery in front of you."
The captain's words were somewhat ambiguous. Red Square is an interesting place. It is surrounded by not only the Lubyanka, but also St. Basil's Cathedral, and it is also home to the majestic Kremlin.
Yang Mingzhi has never been to Moscow, let alone the Red City. Has Youdao never eaten pork and never seen a pig running?
Yang Mingzhi often watched old films of Soviet military parades and even live TV broadcasts of Russian military parades. The Red Square and surrounding buildings have a sense of history and will not be demolished in the coming years. For a hundred years, Red Square has
The surrounding buildings have hardly changed. Yang Mingzhi is really familiar with them and yet unfamiliar with them.
The motorcade turned a street and Yang Mingzhi instantly understood that he was in Red Square.
Where is the Kremlin? Where are the colorful onion churches?
Yang Mingzhi patted Larin on the back anxiously: "Comrade Captain, this must be Red Square. Why? Why can't I see the Kremlin?"
"The palace is right there!"
Following the direction of the captain's fingers, Yang Mingzhi finally saw the legendary Kremlin.
The palace was completely remodeled.
The twenty towers of the palace wall were wrapped in a circle of wooden boards and forcibly transformed into chimneys. The original five-pointed star on the top of the tower was also removed. The white outer wall disappeared and was replaced by an extremely huge canvas, just like a
A raincoat covered almost the entire palace.
St. Basil's Cathedral is also covered by canvas, and the color of the canvas is also very special. It is almost the same color as the road cement, just like a huge granite standing on Red Square.
Captain Larin was happy to describe what he knew about the Moscow anti-aircraft camouflage.
The so-called important buildings were all camouflaged. The Kremlin was not only covered with a layer of cloth, but also a number of wooden houses were suddenly built in the open space inside.
"When the Germans bombed, they must determine the appearance of the Kremlin based on pre-war aerial photos. As long as we eliminate the open space in the palace, the German pilots will definitely think that it is a residential area. Moscow is very big. If the German bombers want to attack the palace, they will
There was no time to wonder where the palace had gone. They had to make a choice or they would lose the fuel to return."
Yang Mingzhi nodded deeply. Originally, since aircraft were used in wars, air defense camouflage came into being. Due to the level of science and technology, the accuracy of aerial photography by reconnaissance aircraft in this time and space is average, and it is difficult for highly skilled scouts to distinguish between two thousand meters.
What is parked on the ground below is a tank or a pile of specially shaped wooden blocks.
According to what the captain said, the Soviet army used a trick to blind the Kremlin. From a high altitude, it looked like a residential area with factory chimneys.
Yang Mingzhi continued to ask: "In that case, what is Lubyanka's current situation? Is he also disguised?"
"Of course, including the square in front of our office building, a large number of wooden houses have been erected now. Air Force reconnaissance planes have repeatedly checked the camouflage situation in the city. I have seen aerial photography of friendly forces. The Lubyanka District has also become a residential area.
"
"How admirable!"
"Oh, thank you for your praise. Actually, let me express my opinion. I think the city's air defense is too extreme! The air defense balloon has risen to four thousand meters, which has exceeded the reasonable combat altitude of enemy bombers. The enemy has to drop bombs at a higher altitude.
Not to mention that the accuracy is greatly reduced, it is estimated that a large number of bombs will hit the balloons first. The anti-aircraft balloons form a shield, which can eliminate the enemy's damage. I think we can already peel off the rags of the building."
"Haha." Yang Mingzhi joked with a smile, "If the German air raid succeeds again, even if a bomb falls, won't someone have to be punished? For the safety of his own life, he will not dare to neglect. Once something goes wrong, Lubyanka will
Isn't this the prison prepared for that man?"
"Haha, you are right. Until now, we still have some prisoners here."
"There are still prisoners? Aren't all those prisoners thrown into the Gulag labor camps?"
"No! There are still some anti-Soviet bad elements detained here, and senior German officers have been captured in previous battles. By the way!" Captain Larin said about the division commander, "The troops under your command captured the commander of the German 64th Division.
I can tell you that if nothing happens, this person will eventually be imprisoned in the Lubyanka."
Yang Mingzhi shrugged. At least compared to ordinary German officers, perhaps the stubborn Mr. Hendryson would be treated obediently by the guys from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Lubyanka. For this person, because of his orders to
More than 3,000 civilians were killed in the forests northwest of Ernigov. When the war is over and a large trial is held, this man will probably be found guilty and sentenced to death.
"That officer is guilty and has a tough attitude. He must know a lot of information. We can't pry his mouth open. I hope you can."
"Of course, we are very experienced in torture."
The convoy finally arrived at its destination - Lubyanka Square.
As the captain said, the office building, Building No. 11, was indeed covered with a layer of canvas. The original square disappeared without a trace and was replaced by a large number of wooden houses.
Forcibly camouflaging the building was nothing more than a cover-up for the enemy. Hidden under the camouflage were anti-aircraft gun positions. Right in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs office building, Yang Mingzhi noticed that they had deployed at least six anti-aircraft gun positions.
Judging from the shape of the anti-aircraft gun, I am afraid that the T485 tank also uses this style.
"Get out of the car, Comrade General. The owner of the building is already waiting for you."
"Okay, Comrade Captain. I hope Comrade NKVD will not feel uncomfortable with me, a catfish that emerged from the swamp."
"Haha, you are joking."
Yang Mingzhi hoped to tell some jokes to ease his nervousness. After all, it was Beria he wanted to see, and then Stalin. He said that he had experienced hundreds of battles, and even if Hitler stood in front of him, he could kill him without hesitation.
It was knocked over.
Beria is in a certain room of this magnificent neo-Baroque building. How was the meeting with him?
Yang Mingzhi calmed down, dragged his wife out of the car, and quickly arranged his old military uniform.
People from the Ministry of Internal Affairs carefully unloaded the boxes brought from the swamp, along with a large number of documents and precious submissions. The research and review of these items was entirely the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Yang Mingzhi kept watching as the soldiers took away all the boxes, including his own luggage. The small wooden box that meant so much to the couple was also taken away.
"Hey! Comrade Captain, those are our personal belongings, do you want to take them away too?"
"Of course not, your luggage will be kept by us for the time being." The captain urged, "Don't worry, we don't dare to embezzle your things."
"All right..."
Yang Mingzhi turned his head and suddenly saw a few people standing at the top of the steps at the main entrance. Apart from the soldiers on guard in the building, two middle-aged men wearing special collar badges walked straight down.
The collar badge of the visitor is completely different from that of the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel. The collar badge is a red flag with an embossed image of Lenin on it.
Their Komsomol people!
Suddenly, this idea came to mind. Yang Mingzhi instantly understood that these guys must be supporting Yang Tao and Natasha.
Before meeting with Beria, Yang Mingzhi first met with comrades from the Communist Youth League branch in Moscow. After a brief exchange of greetings, Natasha and Yang Tao finally found the organization.
Natasha had a great time chatting with those people, but Yang Tao seemed not to want to talk more.
Yang Mingzhi knows his wife's feelings very well. To this day, as a wife, she has been accommodating her husband. She has become a Soviet citizen, but her soul is still 10,000 kilometers away in China. Originally, it was Yelianjing who joined the group more than half a year ago.
It was forced by Na in order to forcibly expand the organization. Regarding this matter, Yang Tao's attitude was dispensable.
"As long as it's good for my husband and our family, then just join the group."
She had no ideological awareness, but Natasha was in a different situation.
At this point, Yang Mingzhi finally felt that Natasha, who came to Moscow, was like a lark leaving her cage. Pripet Swamp was like a huge cage, and her beautiful bird had now flown to Moscow!
"Haha, it seems that I guessed it all right. In terms of record alone, you are the best female sniper in the Soviet Union. You are still an underage member of the Lenin Communist Youth League. From now on, your life will be completely different." Yang Mingzhi said in his heart
He was blessing her, and similarly, his life was also opening a new page.
The captain urged: "Comrade general, follow me, I will take you directly to see comrade NKVD!"
Now Yang Mingzhi has a capable appearance. His military uniform is very old, which also proves his nature of having experienced hundreds of battles. The medals he took off are all worn again, and the various medals on his chest further prove that he is extraordinary.
experience.
The Soviet Red Army currently has seventy-one group armies. Even if the 6th Army Group is now very small, it is still a group army of great strategic significance. Yang Mingzhi is still an upright commander. Among many colleagues, as of September 1944, he is also a group army.
He has the most medals.
The two huge gold star medals are his pride and the best proof of his identity.
"As soon as I step through here, I enter the famous headquarters building of the Lubyanka Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Yang Mingzhi gathered his composure and stepped into this sacred temple that was once seen a hundred times and symbolized the absolute authority of the Soviet Union.
The exterior of the building is completely disguised, but the interior decoration is really good. There are a large number of exquisite decorations on both sides of the wide corridor, and some places seem to be gilded, giving the overall feeling of luxury.
Were these decorations also requested or supported by Beria? Or was this what he was like before the Soviet Union occupied this building?
Yang Mingzhi maintained absolute silence because his wife and Natasha were members of the Soviet Communist Youth League. They, including the young Kostya, were all under the supervision of Communist Youth League cadres. He was the only one who was about to enter Beria's office.
A heavy painted oak door stood in front of Yang Mingzhi. Captain Larin said calmly: "This is it, you are about to see him." After that, the captain rang the doorbell... (To be continued)