897 South Valley

In the Kremlin of the Soviet Union, Zhukov and a group of Soviet generals are persuading Stalin to agree to the plan of the Soviet army to go south for a decisive battle. (Baidu search website is the fastest and most stable update): . Most of them felt that they were deceived by the German army, by the German planes that bombed Moscow a few days ago.

"Ten days! We wasted more than ten days just for a high-altitude bombing that didn't even attack the city center." An officer sighed and shook his head regretfully, "This is too cowardly, isn't it?" What? We have lost all the face of our great motherland."

Everyone thinks that his behavior is just a typical afterthought, so no one gets to the bottom of his complaints. You must know that not to mention a small army commander like him, even Stalin and Zhukov dared not come to him more than ten days ago. , It is easy to conclude that the German bombing is just a bluff.

At that time, anyway, the capital Moscow was also bombed by German bombers on a large scale. This is an indisputable fact that cannot be questioned by anyone. Many people estimated that the German troops attacking Moscow would move within 24 hours, and some even concluded that the German army would attack Moscow immediately.

Under the circumstances at that time, almost everyone advocated defending Moscow first, and then considering other issues, because no one could bear the responsibility of losing the national capital. As a result of everyone arguing with each other and ignoring each other, the plan of the Soviet Red Army to go south in the end came to naught, that's all.

As for now, more than ten days later, everyone obviously understands that the news that the German army is short of fuel may be true, and the unprecedented bombing of Moscow is actually a means for the German army to cover up its weakness. . Because from that bombing until now, there has never been a second air strike.

So at this time, many younger generals began to question Zhukov's or Stalin's judgment. They did not dare to raise it openly at the meeting, but adopted this method of behind-the-scenes discussion and spread it in their own circles. This kind of thing is done very covertly, because after the great purge, the Soviet Union's tolerance for criticizing Stalin, the leader of the country, is almost zero.

"You don't want to die? Why are you talking so loudly? Everyone knows that Stalin is an idiot in military command, but what can he do?" Another officer turned his head and looked at the positions of the guards around him. , but I whispered: "The great opportunity of so many days wasted in vain."

If he is not in his position, does not seek his own government, and is not in Zhukov's position, of course he does not know how much pressure he will face. At this time, it is of course "everyone else is 250, only myself is wise and powerful." Before the voices of the two people fell to the ground, the shrill siren sounded again in the sky over Moscow.

Yes, the German air force was out again, this time with so many planes and twenty fighter jets. Still did not rush into the absolute air defense circle of Moscow, and still dropped some bombs on the periphery, and it was done hastily. The only difference is,

Last time it was night, this time it was daytime.

"German planes? Air strikes? How is this possible? Didn't the Germans really lack fuel? What's going on?" The young officer who was talking nonsense just now asked with a trembling voice, making him question other people's decisions , he may pick out dozens of faults and attack everywhere, but it is a bit difficult for him to figure out a way out by himself.

The other officer did not speak this time, because he was too frightened to speak by the distant explosion. After all, he is just an officer in the logistics department, not the kind who manages affairs.

When the two were at a loss, Zhukov happened to pass by with his assistants. He looked at the two ashen-faced officers and said in a slow tone: "It happens that you are here. The great Soviet leader, Comrade Stalin, wants to Call an emergency meeting, and all officers who are able to attend will be present."

"Yes!" The two quickly stood at attention, followed Zhukov and Zhukov's assistants, and walked towards a huge conference room in the Kremlin with their heads down. This is the place where Stalin often held combat meetings. It is spacious and bright, and it is not at all like the current war situation in the Soviet Union.

"Comrade Stalin, I personally suspect that the German army is indeed making maximum use of their strategic bombers to interfere with our army's judgment." The meeting began quickly, and there were no less than twenty generals and officers in the conference room. Some are from the Moscow Garrison Command, and some are from the Logistics Department of the Moscow Theater of the Soviet Union. On the contrary, there are very few front-line generals, because they all have to prepare for war on the front line.

Zhukov took the lead in expressing his doubts about the irregular bombing of Moscow by the German army. He felt that this was a kind of interference operation by the German army, and the purpose was to prevent the main force of the Soviet army from going south.

In fact, if there is only one battlefield in the direction of Moscow, then he must also be a stone Buddha, unmoving until the last second. But Rokossovsky, who couldn't stand the urging of several telegrams in the southern theater all day long, asked Zhukov to go south to reinforce him.

If you count the problems in the southern theater, then Zhukov has to admit that going south for a decisive battle is currently the best choice. However, he was not Stalin, so he couldn't directly command the troops to go south quickly to fight for a more favorable opportunity for a decisive battle.

As a commander, what he hopes more is to command troops to rush to the front line as he did during the battle for Ukraine. Even if he fails, he is worthy of his title of marshal. It's a pity that he can only sit in Moscow now, waiting for Stalin to realize it later.

"The German bombing interval is not short, and I personally feel that the German strategic bombing does not prove that it has enough fuel." A general in charge of logistics thought for a while, and said to Stalin: "But Comrade Stalin, I can't afford to let you Responsibility for putting Moscow at risk..."

If anyone dares to say that it is the best policy to go south for a decisive battle at this time, whoever will bear the follow-up responsibility once Moscow is occupied by the German army. Regardless of whether it is Stalin or the successors of the Soviet Union in the future, this person must be the first to be used to make an example to a hundred—it is not enough for a small amount, it is nothing more than Zhukov or Stalin's level.

"The size of the German bombers...is not large." Zhukov looked at Stalin, who was quite entangled, and decided to choose a plan that seemed to be the most feasible at present. He didn't want to sit still, because the news just came was not very optimistic. At least he felt that the current situation of the Soviet Union was not good.

"If, I mean if, we lose Stalingrad...can the war continue?" Stalin closed his eyes, as if making a big decision, and it seemed that he closed his eyes just because of recent fatigue. It's just for repose. The question he asked made the meeting hall quiet down, and the voices against going south that had been whispering just now disappeared.

"Comrade Stalin, if we lose the oil fields near Baku, we will only have enough reserves in our hands to launch an offensive... If our offensive fails, then the Great Patriotic War will never be won. Zhukov looked at Stalin, and finally answered: "With all due respect, my advice is that it is best not to abandon the Caucasus..."

"Enough! I understand." Stalin stretched out his hand, blocking Zhukov's words. He was one of the few people in the conference room who knew something else. A few hours earlier, an even worse telegram had reached Moscow. Most people were still unaware of the crisis, but he knew it personally.

So he needs a victory, a great victory to prevent the retreat of the front line, this is his firm idea just now. If it weren't for the sudden and well-timed bombing now, maybe Stalin had already issued an order for the main force of the Soviet army to start going south.

"Then, let's assume that if I order the troops to go south, will they bump into the German armored troops while going south?" Stalin opened his eyes and continued to ask Zhukov. These days, Stalin did not study the Soviet army's southward combat plan. He knew that this plan was very feasible, at least it was much better than staying in Moscow and waiting to die.

"Comrade Stalin, we are already half a month later than expected to go south. The G Army has rested for almost 20 days and has just approached the Kursk region... In this case, I think even with the original scale It will be useless for our troops to go south." Zhukov regretfully stated to Stalin: "If you ask me what to do, then I will gather more troops and move south to fight the German army in the Kursk region. "

"So, now, how many troops do you need to go south? 30 divisions? Or 35 divisions?" Stalin listened to Zhukov finish his words, and then asked: "How to prevent the German army from exerting its air superiority? Do you have your own ideas about defeating the most elite group army of the German army in one fell swoop?"

"First of all, Comrade Stalin, any battle will be risky." Zhukov replied: "I will concentrate all the armor in my hands and go south to the front to top the German Army Group G that is slowly advancing north. Choose to wait for a decisive battle in bad weather , because our strength is superior, so I am confident to defeat this German army."

He paused, and then continued to answer Stalin's question: "I need 40 divisions, a full 40 divisions! If the battle enters a stalemate, even the 10 new divisions drawn from the Far East will be used as a reserve Team."