Chapter six hundred and fiftieth comprehensive counterattack
"It's time to face the enemy!" Khrushchev said: "Since the outbreak of the war, we have generally been afraid of the enemy and timid. Although many people have not shown it, they have failed in action or in formulating combat plans.
An enemy who more or less overestimates shows lack of confidence!"
At this point, Khrushchev glanced at Shulka, and then continued: "Comrade Shulka is completely different from these people in this respect. Not only did he bravely lead the troops to break out from the enemy's encirclement again and again,
Also dare to fight the enemy in formulating strategic plans!”
Shulka was a little embarrassed to hear this.
Because it can be said that what he did was not because of bravery. The former was because he wanted to survive and was forced to break out again and again.
As for the latter, it was because he knew that the German army would be surrounded, so he dared to formulate a bolder counterattack plan.
"We should learn from Comrade Shulka!" Khrushchev continued: "The Germans are not invincible, they can be defeated. The defense of Moscow proved this, so we must have more confidence to formulate reasonable
A combat plan that can inflict a more severe blow to the enemy!"
In fact, it is normal for the Soviet army to behave so unconfidently.
Although the Moscow Defense War was a victory, most people believed that it was because of the weather. In other words, the Soviets themselves believed that if it were not for the harsh winter, Moscow would probably have been captured by the Germans and the Soviet Union would have been torn apart.
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Some officers did not believe this. After their victory in the defense of Moscow, they thought they could defeat the German army.
But the defeat in the Battle of Kharkov instantly shattered the fragile confidence they had just established... Soon after the confidence is rebuilt, it collapses again and there will be a backlash phenomenon, that is, it will quickly go to the other extreme and become extremely unconfident.
The Soviet army was in this state at this time, and even Zhukov was no exception...Zhukov commanded the Stalingrad Front and launched several large-scale battles but all ended in failure, which meant that he had nothing to do.
Or it can be said that Zhukov may not have lost confidence in himself, but at least he had doubts about the combat effectiveness of the troops he commanded, so he did not believe that the Soviet army could successfully encircle the German army in Stalingrad.
"You are right, Comrade Political Commissar!" Zhukov objected: "But this does not mean that we have such strength!"
If there is anyone who can oppose Khrushchev, it is Supreme Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhukov. Especially Zhukov is the supreme commander who won the battle to defend Moscow. Zhukov has the most say in this aspect of combat.
"And even if we surround the Germans!" Zhukov pointed to the map and said: "Don't forget that we never have air superiority... What I mean is that although our air force has initially completed the reform and its combat effectiveness has been significantly improved, they
It still needs time to adjust, and we are still far from fully seizing air supremacy with the Germans!"
As he spoke, Zhukov turned his attention to Novikov.
Novikov nodded in agreement: "Judging from the current training situation of our army, we can only barely seize air supremacy in a limited area with numerical superiority. For example, in this combat plan, we must take environmental advantages, infantry lure the enemy, and cooperate.
Lower the cover and advance the infantry! Comprehensively compete with the enemy for air supremacy... It is conservatively estimated that it will take a year!"
Zhukov thus won the support of Novikov.
In fact, it is understandable for Zhukov to think so, because the Stalingrad Front was previously commanded by him. According to the original plan, the Don River Front is now the northern pincer, and the Stalingrad Front is the southern pincer to attack the German army. The Don River is bound to continue to strengthen the
The strength of the front army.
But if the Southwest Front is used as the northern pincer, the Don Front will definitely be weakened.
"So!" Zhukov continued: "Without air superiority, suppose we surround hundreds of thousands of German troops, and there are hundreds of thousands of Romanian troops, Italian troops, etc. around us, although the combat effectiveness of the latter may not be worth it.
Mention it, but the most important thing is air superiority... Once the German reinforcements arrive, we will be attacked from two sides by the German army. Their tanks will counterattack our army under the cover of air power. At that time, our intersecting troops will instead
There is a danger of being cut off and surrounded by the enemy!”
After a pause, Zhukov continued: "Comrade Political Commissar, we are not timid. This can be proved by our persistence in fighting near Stalingrad until now! But do we really need to take this risk? We
It is absolutely possible to win this battle easily. What I mean is that the Stalingrad Front Army and the Don River Front Army will encircle the Germans and force them back. Then Stalingrad will be relieved. The morale of our army will be further improved.
If we ask for too much, the enemy's arrogance will be hit! However, if we ask for too much, the consequences of failure will be disastrous!"
In a way, what Zhukov said is indeed right.
If the situation he mentioned really happens, that is, the Soviet army is surrounded by the German army... that is the elite troops of the two front armies. Even with the mobilization ability of the Soviet army, I am afraid that it will fail, and Stalin
I am afraid that Gullah will not be able to defend it due to too much loss of life force.
In fact, not only Stalingrad, but perhaps the entire Soviet Union will groan under the tracks of German tanks.
So, is it really necessary to take this risk?
On the other hand, people always have a kind of inertia. If they can easily win a small victory, why not? Why should we take the risk of annihilating the entire army to win a victory that seems out of reach?
What's more, the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad was no small victory.
Khrushchev was speechless, so he could only turn his attention to Shulka.
After thinking for a while, Shulka replied: "If the Germans have sufficient reinforcements and air power, I agree with Comrade Zhukov's statement!"
"What do you mean?" Zhukov looked at Shulka in confusion: "Are you saying that the Germans do not have enough reinforcements and air power? Comrade Shulka, we are not sure about this, and you are not sure either. We cannot take risks because of speculation.
!War is not gambling!”
Although Zhukov trusted Shulka very much, he couldn't help but get excited at this time.
"I know, Comrade Zhukov!" Shulka replied: "And you are right, I do not know and am not sure, but we can leave the Germans without reinforcements!"
Shulka pointed to the map and said: "Crime, Caucasus, Moscow, Leningrad, and of course Stalingrad, why don't we organize a comprehensive counterattack?" (To be continued)