Chapter 1858 Zhukov Meets Stalin at the Kongzewo Villa (Part 1)
A lonely Li-2 transport plane took advantage of the night and soared into the sky.
The mission performed by this plane can be described as a top-secret flight. If the Germans learned that the only passenger on the plane was Zhukov himself, they would definitely dispatch a large number of planes to intercept it.
Of course, the outcome of the war cannot be completely controlled by one person's decision. Even if Zhukov's plane is really shot down, the victory of the war will definitely belong to the world's Allies.
However, the death of an outstanding Allied commander will undoubtedly have the consequences of delaying Victory Day.
In another dimension, Zhukov also flew back to Moscow from the Stalingrad front line in early October. In order to rush for time, the crew boldly flew over the war zone. The aircraft was attacked by German ground firepower. It was simply at night, but the Germans did not shoot down the suspicious aircraft.
Transport aircraft.
Today, on this battlefield that was slightly disturbed by Yang Mingzhi's activities, the Soviet-German front line and that plane in October have undergone considerable changes.
From the standpoint of Zhukov and Stalin, they did not know what the war situation in the northern Soviet Union was like in October 1942 in another parallel world. They were people from this time and space, and they only looked at the course of the war in this time and space.
Undoubtedly, the current situation is very favorable to the Soviet army. It seems that with one strong enough attack, the German army in the Vyazma salient will collapse.
Zhukov saw this and had a larger strategic purpose.
What does it mean to take out the German troops in the salient? There are only a handful of German troops in that salient!
Yes, in Zhukov's view, Model's German troops were a piece of roasted lamb chops, while Smolensk was a whole roasted lamb.
In the few days before leaving, he took the time to compile the existing intelligence and had a very good understanding of the situation on the northern front.
Generally speaking, throughout September in the north, the front lines between the Soviet Union and Germany did not change much, and the Soviet army even took a slight advantage.
Rzhev is a city built along the river. It is an important strategic city in Russia. Therefore, it has witnessed too many wars in its hundreds of years of history. The Western Front of the Soviet Army liberated this place at a great cost in manpower and material resources.
, the friendly Kalinin Front tried its best to advance in the direction of Smolensk, and its partial division attacked the important town of Veliky Luki.
The Soviet army did not capture Velikiy Luki, but it prevented the German army's tactical counterattack along the railway line in this direction.
The main forces of the two fronts of the Soviet army tried to attack Smolensk from the north, but their advance ended in a fierce counterattack by the German army.
In the end, the two fronts of the Soviet army broke out in bloody battles with the counterattacking German troops in the small towns of Rey and Sychovka, which lasted throughout September.
It was the Soviet army that occupied Rzhev. After they repaired the bombed railway, they began to receive supplies and new troops from Moscow in a few days. It can be said that the Soviet army was able to stabilize this railway in September.
The defense line and the railway line from Rzhev to Moscow played an important role.
In today's era, when the air force bombs narrow railways, it must use a large number of aerial bombs for intensive bombing in order to gain numerical advantage and increase the probability of hitting. But what if the bombs hit the railway tracks?
In Belarus, the German engineers there had long been harassed by the guerrillas and became "road construction experts." For the railways that had been targeted and bombed, they quickly re-paved the roadbed, then installed the prefabricated railways containing sleepers, and finally nailed them to the roadbed.
If you go long, the railway will be open within twelve hours. Often they can resolve the battle within eight hours.
Therefore, in response to this situation, Yang Mingzhi, who was still commanding the operations of the Guerrilla Republic in Belarus, was completely different from the methods of other guerrilla troops. He was more willing to directly use high-power rocket launchers to directly blow up the advancing German military columns.
In September, the German army bombed the Rzhev railway station and nearby railway tracks. The German army achieved certain results, but it could not prevent the Soviet army from continuing to replenish its troops and supplies.
In the past September, neither the Soviet Union nor Germany launched a division-level tactical offensive. Both sides were building fortifications and replenishing new troops and equipment.
Even though the Soviet army lost 200,000 combat troops in the offensive battle in August, they were able to withstand such losses. The key was that the Soviet army successfully completed the purpose of the campaign, which was to liberate Rzhev and occupy Rzhev-Sechovka.
Railway. The Soviet army had an unexpected gain, which was the liberation of the small town of Rey.
Isn't what Zhukov has in front of him a great strategic pattern?
Surrounding the Vyazma area under German occupation, the Soviet army built a pincer line of defense from Reisechovka, Karmanovo, Mozhaisk, Yukhnov, Suhinich.
The Soviet defense line has always been close to the German Vyazma salient, especially in the north. The southernmost unit of Kalinin is only 110 kilometers away from Smolensk.
Of course, the German army was aware of the huge dangers in the salient. Model was unable to recapture Rey and Sychovka in the north, so they tried to capture Sushinich in the east. A bloody battle broke out in the open wilderness because the two sides lacked sufficient offensive maneuverability.
Without enough troops and tanks, the German army's plan was never realized throughout September. It was also difficult for the German army to realize this plan in the visible month of October.
In Zhukov's view, the German army had fallen into complete passivity! The Soviet army in the south was still struggling along hundreds of kilometers of fronts from the lower reaches of the Volga River to the Caucasus Mountains. Didn't the Soviet army in the north encounter a major strategic opportunity?
The enemy is passive! That means our army has a huge advantage.
Zhukov took his two entourages and several briefcases and boldly flew to Moscow.
Due to weather reasons, the transport plane did not depart until 6:30 pm on October 4. The plane passed over the Voronezh Front Army Defense Area, flew safely over the German-occupied areas in the Orel region, and finally arrived at the satellite town southeast of Moscow at 9:30 pm
Lyubertsy.
Having just arrived at the outskirts of Moscow, Zhukov, who had just landed, immediately got into a car, and the car quickly headed towards Stalin's Kontsevo villa in the western suburbs of Moscow.
It was late at night, and Stalin, who knew there would be an important meeting the next day, still stayed awake, so he drank some bitter coffee to refresh himself.
All preparations were made to welcome the distinguished guest Zhukov who had returned from the front line.
Anyone who was invited to Stalin's home as a guest was proven to be favored by Stalin. The more often he came, the more favored he became.
In 1942 alone, Zhukov had already been here many times.
In early September, not long after Moscow suffered a special air raid by the German army, Zhukov was dragged back from the front line by Stalin. The top military officers of the Soviet Union came to the Kremlin to hold a major military meeting to discuss how to withstand the German army's all-out attack on the Volga River Basin.
At that meeting, it was Zhukov who boldly proposed that the so-called task of the army is not to passively defend. If our army completely annihilates the attacking enemy, the crisis in southern Russia and the Caucasus will be resolved.
Zhukov decided to launch a major strategic counterattack that had never been seen since the beginning of the war. The strategic goal was not to gain or lose a city or an area, but to completely annihilate Paulus's Sixth Army and its logistics forces.
This bold plan was immediately approved by Chief of General Staff Vasilevsky, as well as important frontline generals Timoshenko, Vatutin, and Budyonny.
Everyone needed victory so much! Stalin immediately approved the implementation of this strategic plan.
Of course, implementing the plan requires a lot of time to prepare, and secondly, the situation of the German army must also be considered.
That meeting was held on September 13. After Stalin approved it, it was Zhukov and Vasilevsky's responsibility to implement the major counteroffensive.
But Stalin knew one thing in advance. In order to cooperate with the Soviet army's operations in the southern theater, tactical support from the northern theater was needed.
Zhukov, who was transferred to Stalingrad to command operations, his strategic vision has never been limited to a mere southern Russia. His eyes are on the entire front. In his opinion, the Leningrad Front, which has been fighting fiercely on the front,
The Kalinin Front, the Western Front, the Bryansk Front, the Voronezh Front, the South-Western Front, and the Don Front are all an organic whole.
The victory or defeat of one front can have an impact on other fronts.
From the strategic counteroffensive in early 1942, a Soviet army tried to defeat the enemy of Vyazma. Eight months later, the Soviet army finally saw the biggest fighter that could "eat this tough nut".
It was originally the task of the northern Soviet army to solve the enemy of Vyazma. Under the current situation, it became very urgent to complete it in a short time.
Therefore, although the meeting has not yet been held, Stalin has already made a decision in his heart.
As long as Zhukov proposed "concentrate the troops to capture Vyazma", he would agree.
Stalin couldn't wait to see him.
The person who was supposed to come finally arrived at 10:30 pm.
Stalin had been waiting quietly in his military uniform. When he heard that the convoy to pick up Zhukov had arrived, he couldn't wait to rush out of the door and stood in the courtyard watching the dust-laden Zhukov walk in.
"Reporting to Comrade Stalin that I have arrived." Zhukov saluted with a standard military salute.
Stalin looked serious and gave a polite military salute, but his heart was filled with excitement.
Stalin ordered his guards to stay outside and only invited Zhukov into his bedroom. Everything was just like it was on the evening of September 12th.
The light illuminated the entire room, including the portraits of Bagration and Kutuzov hanging on the wall.
Those were all famous generals during the Tsarist Russia period, especially Kutuzov, who could be described as a fierce general who turned the tide.
Zhukov couldn't help but glance at the portraits on the wall. This scene happened to be seen by Stalin who had just stuffed tobacco into his pipe.
"Comrade Georgy Konstantinovich, are you looking at those people?"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin."
"Ah! They are all famous generals in the Patriotic War of 1812, such as Kutuzov. The great Russia withstood the French invasion and finally led the army into Paris. Kutuzov played an indispensable role. So,
Who will lead our troops into Berlin?"
"It's me! Comrade Stalin." Zhukov replied without thinking.
Stalin nodded deeply and took another meaningful drag on his cigarette.
If he is a flatterer, he will definitely say "Comrade Stalin will bring troops to Berlin". Stalin has heard this kind of statement too many times, but the fact is here. Stalin does not think he is an invincible military strategist.
Personal eagerness for quick success is one of the reasons for the current melee in South Russia.
Besides, as the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, his first priority should not be to "conquer personally."
Who will lead the army into Berlin? Besides Zhukov, is there anyone else who is more qualified?
Stalin stood out from the smoke and said meaningfully: "You are very honest and brave. I like you very much."
"Thank you for your compliment."
"Now let's get down to business. Regarding the next battle, have you made a complete battle plan?"
"Yes! Comrade Stalin. I brought some documents, but more content..."
"How about it?"
"It's in my head. If you care to listen, I can tell you now."
"Ah!? No! Just wait."
This was the biggest reason why Stalin insisted on staying up and waiting for Zhukov. However, when the opportunity was presented to him, he thought about it and decided to discuss everything at the meeting.
Stalin shook his head: "There is no peace in Moscow, and there are spies operating under the calm. You came back secretly, and we held a secret meeting. I trust my guards, but we still have to be vigilant. We must do our best.
Do your best to avoid all possible leaks."
"Your vigilance is admirable."
Stalin shrugged: "Actually, I have basically understood your decision, and it makes me happy. More than 20 years ago, I commanded the troops to liberate Tsaritsyn, which was a major victory for me. Although under my order,
The battle to liberate Kharkiv in May failed, but you must understand that I have military command capabilities and I can clearly see the current strategic situation."
"Yes! Comrade Stalin, you are our supreme commander!"
"I'm afraid some people have forgotten this."
Hearing this, Zhukov's forehead became wet, not only because the heating system of this house was excellent, but also because there was a hidden knife in Stalin's words.
Zhukov felt that the "certain people" mentioned by Stalin were himself. He hesitated and then said: "I swear on behalf of all generals that we fully agree with your command."
"I believe you are all loyal. Loyalty is not absolute, that is absolute disloyalty. Those people have been eliminated, have the cowards in the army been eliminated as well? The problem now is serious, if our soldiers and officers are absolutely loyal
, the Don River defense line will not collapse quickly! That’s why I issued that order.”
Everything is a small space interference caused by Yang Mingzhi. The number of the "No step back" order issued by the Kremlin is no longer 227.
The number is irrelevant. What is important is whether the troops implement the order after it is issued. Judging from the current situation, a group of cowards in the army have been executed, and the cowardice of those potential cowards has also been suppressed. Stalin believed that he
This death order was one of the reasons why the Soviet army was able to fight fiercely across the Volga River with the German army, and it was even a major reason.