At the Western Front Headquarters, Zhukov leaned on his office chair and rubbed his forehead, then lit a cigarette to try to relax himself.
Since Zhukov took over as commander of the Western Front, this can be said to be the most dangerous stage... The Mozhaisk defense line is only a hundred kilometers away from Moscow. If there is even the slightest carelessness, the Germans will break through the defense line and advance to the city of Moscow.
To this end, Zhukov successively transferred 14 infantry divisions, 16 tank brigades, more than 40 artillery regiments and other troops from the neighboring fronts and rear areas to the front line, and reorganized the 5th, 16th, 43rd and 49th
Group Army.
This is already the limit that the Soviet army can bear at this time.
However, what makes people feel happy is that although these are not enough to establish a solid front, they have been relieved after all.
"Comrade Zhukov!" the staff officer carefully handed Zhukov a document.
If Zhukov had not given instructions, the staff would not have disturbed Zhukov at this time.
Zhukov said "hmm" and nodded to the staff to put the documents on the table.
That was the meeting minutes sent from the Stalingrad Tractor Factory.
If someone else had proposed a half-track armored vehicle, Zhukov would have simply ignored it, but this person was a "breakout hero"...Zhukov had to take it seriously.
Speaking of this "breakout hero", even Zhukov felt a little incredible.
Not only did he successfully break out of the enemy's encirclement time and time again, he even broke out other troops from the encirclement.
For example, this time, if it were not for his plan, Zhukov believed that the 4th Tank Brigade would not be able to rescue the 20,000 Soviet troops besieged in Tver.
Before this, an army of 20,000 people might not have counted for much at all.
But now, when the entire army is deployed on the Mozhaisk defense line and nervously guarding their positions, with almost no remaining troops, these 20,000 people are crucial.
After resting for a while, Zhukov picked up the meeting minutes from the table and flipped through them.
Then he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, especially when he saw the last paragraph. Zhukov nodded while reading... Now, if anyone tells him that he should give up the research and development of half-track armored vehicles, Zhukov thinks that he is probably sent by the Germans.
spy.
"Comrade Zhukov!" At this time, the staff opened the door and came in to report: "Comrade Stalin is on the phone!"
When Zhukov answered the phone, he heard Stalin on the other end of the phone ask in an unhurried tone: "In ten days it will be the anniversary of the October Revolution. Should we hold a military parade on Red Square?"
Zhukov couldn't help being stunned when he heard this. At this time, Moscow was retreating in panic. All agencies were burning documents. The front line was nervously resisting the German attack. It was possible to break through the defense line and rush into Moscow at any time. How could a military parade be held?
?
"I ask again, do we want to hold a military parade?" Stalin repeated.
"Comrade Stalin!" Zhukov replied: "Our situation is very serious. Almost all our troops are on the front line. Is it appropriate to hold a military parade at this time..."
"I think a military parade should be held!" Stalin replied: "Especially at this moment of national peril! Holding a military parade will not only be a great spiritual inspiration for the people of Moscow, but also the entire army and the country!"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Zhukov soon understood that this was not a question at all, but Stalin asking him to prepare for the military parade.
Zhukov started to feel embarrassed after he put down the phone.
Because the military parade needs to concentrate troops on Moscow's Red Square, which is easily bombed by the Luftwaffe.
This problem seems to be easy to solve, because the air defense forces can be organized to provide full air defense, and the air force can also be used intensively... Although the Soviet air force cannot confront the German army at this time, it can still ensure the safety of the skies above Moscow in a short period of time.
What's more important is that troops must be transferred back from the front line during the military parade, and the withdrawal of troops will inevitably make the front line empty of troops, and the German army may take the opportunity to launch an attack at this time.
Zhukov looked at the map for a while and thought:
Perhaps some of the troops for the military parade can be drawn from each unit, and they can be returned to the battlefield immediately after the military parade.
The problem is in the Tula direction.
Tula has been surrounded by the German army, that is, it has broken through the defense line. The Soviet army only used landmines and obstacles to block the path of the German armored divisions. On the other hand, the German army was also unable to attack with confidence because Tula occupied the supply line... On the side of Tula
With a lake on one side and a river on the other, the German 3rd Armored Division only had a narrow railway bridge as a supply line, which was far from meeting the offensive needs, so they could only try to annihilate the Tula defenders first.
But this also means that the Tula direction is dangerous.
Thinking of this, Zhukov said to his staff: "Notify the Fourth Tank Brigade to prepare for a counterattack against Tula!"
"Yes, Comrade Zhukov!"
At this time, the 4th Tank Brigade is undergoing intense training. They must adapt to the addition of demining tanks and solve various problems.
Shulka, on the other hand, was discussing half-track armored vehicles with Kalashnikov at the company headquarters.
The R&D department needs to fully understand the army's requirements for half-track armored vehicles. There is no need to say who this candidate is, of course it is Kalashnikov.
"The armor thickness requires 7 mm on the sides!" Shulka said: "The front is about 13 mm..."
This is the thickness of the front armor of the German "Pop 1" tank, which can block machine gun bullets.
"There needs to be an armored shield in front of the cab!" Shulka said.
"Armored shield?" Kalashnikov didn't know what it was.
"Yes!" Shurka said: "It is a movable piece of armor. It can be opened to block the sun and rain when marching, and it can be lowered during combat to increase the protection of the cockpit... Of course, an observation hole must be opened!"
"What a great idea!" Kalashnikov said.
"The maximum speed is required to reach about 50 kilometers per hour!" Shulka said: "The T34 tank has a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour. As a half-track armored vehicle for transporting infantry, it should be faster than it, so that it can effectively catch up with and support tank operations in battle.
!”
Kalashnikov nodded: "If its volume is reduced and its load is reduced, the top speed of 50 kilometers per hour will not be a big problem!"
"The minimum requirement is that it can carry 10 people, and there must also be some space to set up a machine gun and store ammunition!"
"Of course!" Kalashnikov replied: "If it can't even load 10 people, it will become an armored vehicle!"
At this time, the Soviet army was generally equipped with a light armored vehicle, the ba64, which was mainly used for reconnaissance and escorting transport convoys.
At this moment, a call came to Shulka's office. Pukarev answered the phone and said: "Comrade Shulka, Major Zahakavich wants you to go to his headquarters!"