Six hundred and ninetieth eight chapters kick the ball
"Comrade Yeremenko!" Vasilevsky said to Yeremenko on the phone: "The National Defense Committee has decided to entrust Comrade Rokossovsky with the final elimination of the enemy Stalingrad Group. Therefore, you should
Transfer command of the 57th, 64th and 6th armies of the Stalingrad Front to the Don Front."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Apparently Yeremenko was stunned by this sudden order.
After a while, Yeremenko's incredible voice came from the other end of the phone: "Why is this happening?"
Vasilevsky repeated what Stalin told him, but this obviously failed to convince Yereomenko.
"But our plan is progressing steadily, isn't it?" Yeremenko was a little excited: "Everything is going very smoothly. We have won several battles. Although there were some minor problems, they were solved quickly!
Why divide the Stalingrad Front, at this time?!"
Vasilevsky didn't know how to convince Yereomenko, because he didn't think it was right.
So he could only suggest: "You need to control your emotions, Comrade Yereomenko! We made this decision not because your command is not good enough, nor because the Stalingrad Front troops are not brave enough to fight! This is a combat need...
…”
"But I don't think there will be any problems if we continue fighting like this!" Yeremenko retorted: "Although I don't know why the Germans didn't retreat. Maybe it's because the Germans are unwilling to give up Stalingrad, or they think that
The reinforcements can easily repel us! I want these arrogant Germans to know that they are wrong, and they will pay the price for this mistake..."
Yeremenko made a pun. On the surface, he seemed to be talking about the Germans, but in fact he was talking about the Supreme Command.
Vasilevsky realized that such a conversation could not continue, otherwise Yeremenko might be convicted, so he quickly interrupted Yeremenko's words.
"You are very emotional, Comrade Yereomenko!" Vasilevsky said: "I suggest you call me again after a while, after you have thought it through!"
After 15 minutes, the phone rang.
Yeremenko's frustrated voice rang on the other end of the phone: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I still don't understand why the troops of the Stalingrad Front were suddenly transferred to the Don Front? I ask you to report to Comrade Stalin! I
It is requested that this battle be continued like this until the enemy is eliminated!"
Vasilev was a little helpless and could only answer: "About this issue, I suggest you call the Supreme Commander in person!"
"I've already called!" Yeremenko replied.
It turned out that in the 15 minutes just now, Yereomenko did not use it to "calm down" as Vasilevsky said, but directly called Stalin.
"How did Comrade Stalin respond to you?" Vasilevsky asked curiously.
"He told me that all I have to do is talk to you about this kind of problem!" Yeremenko replied.
Then Vasilevsky knew that there was no room for change in this matter.
This is actually playing ball. Stalin asked Vasilevsky to give an order, and Vasilevsky had to do it. Yereomenko asked Stalin, and Stalin pushed the question to Vasilevsky... So it became a
An inextricable knot.
Unless Yeremenko submits.
So Vasilevsky's tone became tougher: "Let's put it this way, Comrade Yereomenko! Disobeying orders is an unwise choice, and the situation will be very unfavorable to you. Do you understand?"
Yeremenko could only reply helplessly: "Yes, Comrade Vasilevsky!"
As a result, the order was quickly executed:
1: The Stalingrad Front Army Headquarters should lead the troops operating in the direction of Kotelnikovo and continue to annihilate the enemy forces in the Kotelnikovo area.
2: The Stalingrad Front was renamed the Southern Front.
Three: The 6th, 64th and 57th Group Armies were transferred from the Stalingrad Front to the Don Front.
The execution of these orders immediately caused quite a stir among the troops, especially the 51st Army.
Group Army Commander Trufanov even thought it was a rumor and contacted the front army several times for confirmation, but all he received were disappointing answers.
"Confirmed!" Trufanov looked at the map and said distressedly: "The order is true. The Stalingrad Front changed the Southern Front. There are only the 51st Army, the 8th Army and the 8th Aviation Army!"
In fact, this is only superficial data. A considerable part of the tank troops of the 8th Army as a reserve force has been transferred to the 57th Army to outflank Karachi. Most of the air force of the 8th Aviation Army has also been transferred to Dundu along with several armies.
The River Front was used to siege Stalingrad.
The Stalingrad Front... should be called the Southern Front at this time, and its air force only has a few pre-reform mixed aviation regiments.
"The point is... when our strength has been weakened to this extent, our offensive plan has not changed!" Trufanov said angrily: "We have no troops to cover the flanks, no reserves, and not enough
Air force cover, but still interspersed with the main force?"
Shulka knew what was happening.
Although overall, the units did not seem to have changed much after the plan change, the 51st Army was isolated.
To put it simply, the 51st Army actually became a bait, a bait to attract German reinforcements.
Only by the 51st Army's continuous penetration can the German reinforcements be forced to deal with the 51st Army first.
As a result, the German reinforcements were unable to reinforce Stalingrad, so the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad was like double insurance.
Stalin fought tooth and nail to keep the city named after him, even sacrificing an elite force.
Trufanov was no fool, and he quickly understood this.
What's even more uncomfortable is that even though everyone understands this but can't say it, the meeting room is lifeless for a moment, and everyone has a feeling of impending disaster.
After a while, Trufanov turned his attention to Shulka and asked with a glimmer of hope: "Can I contact Comrade Khrushchev?"
Shulka understood the meaning of Trufanov's words, and he hoped that Shulka could use Khrushchev's relationship to make some changes.
But Shulka shook his head and rejected the plan without thinking.
It's not that Shulka didn't help, but that Khrushchev was a shrewd politician and he knew that he should disappear at this time.
Otherwise, Khrushchev would have contacted them long ago. (To be continued)