Chapter 1026 Do You Want Me to Regret It?

As the frontline representative of the headquarters, Zhukov will command Rokossovsky's Central Front. The German and Soviet forces in this direction are both the strongest. The German Central Army Group on the opposite side is a very difficult target to deal with. Strictly speaking, the situation in this direction is the most critical.

Logically speaking, the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade, which is the most elite heavy tank unit in the Red Army, should be sent to the direction where Zhukov is located to deal with the impact of the powerful German Central Army Group armored forces. Such a result is a matter of course.

But if the problem is really so easy to solve, Vasilevsky would not have to beat around the bush to talk to Zhukov.

Vatutin, the commander of the Voronezh Front, who faces the equally powerful German Southern Army Group, just called the General Staff of the Red Army in person.

On the phone, Vatutin pleaded with Vasilevsky in person, asking him to send the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade, which was on standby in the suburbs of Stalingrad, to the Voronezh Front under his command to participate in the next combat operations.

The reason given by Vatutin was simple and sufficient.

The enemy he faced was Manstein, who had just made a great victory by storming forward and digging a big hole for the Red Army. To deal with such a fierce opponent who had taken advantage of the victory, he must be fully prepared and fully prepared to meet him. The main problem he faced now was the lack of tank strength.

Vatutin gave detailed examples on the phone, saying that his Voronezh Front not only had less technical equipment and artillery than the Central Front, but also lacked quality.

The latest IS1 heavy tanks were basically allocated to the Central Front to strengthen its strength. His Voronezh Front only had those old KV1s and groups of T34s, and even a large number of light tanks that could only conduct reconnaissance and guerrilla warfare.

More importantly, these two main tanks have been proven to be inadequate to deal with the Germans' new tanks in the previous Kharkov battle. They are in a state of comprehensive backwardness in terms of firepower and armor protection. This situation must be effectively improved to solve the problem.

Vatutin did not ask to compete with the Central Front for quotas in the allocation of new tanks, but found the key point and specifically asked to draw Malashenko's troops under his command.

Vatutin even bluntly told Vasilevsky on the phone that Malashenko's brigade could be equivalent to 300 brand new IS1 heavy tanks. If the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade was allocated to him, he would have no more requirements and guaranteed to complete every task assigned by his superiors.

Vatutin said so much, leaving Vasilevsky with basically no room for maneuver.

Feeling that the matter was difficult to handle, Vasilevsky only promised Vatutin on the phone that he would fight for him, but the result could not be guaranteed. This was not something he could keep his word on. If Vatutin really wanted to get the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade under his command, he had to wait for a call back with good news.

Why is this matter difficult to handle?

Vasilevsky, who only hinted, did not say it clearly on the phone, and Vatutin on the other end of the phone did not ask further. Naturally, he understood that the biggest problem was Marshal Zhukov, the god of war of the Red Army.

Malashenko was a popular tank hero promoted and cultivated by Marshal Zhukov. This was already a well-known open matter among the entire Red Army high-level officials, and it was not a secret.

It can be predicted that Marshal Zhukov will most likely summon Malashenko's troops to fight in the Central Front. The previous order to keep Stalin's 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade in Stalingrad was almost entirely issued by Zhukov.

Vasilevsky could probably guess that Zhukov did this to keep a trump card for the most critical moment. Even from the strategic perspective of the entire Red Army, it is understandable to keep a strong elite reserve in hand and prepare for use at a critical moment. After all, the current battlefield situation is that the Red Army is at a disadvantage.

But the question is, Zhukov, who has always been irritable and dared to shout and slam the table in Comrade Stalin's office, can really tolerate his trump card being loaned to others?

Vasilevsky shook his head secretly and felt that it would be good if Zhukov didn't slam the table and yell with him after a while, so it would be better not to expect miracles too much.

But what Vasilevsky didn't expect was that Zhukov, who was lying on the table with a pencil in his hand, stretched out his hand to measure and mark on the war zone map, spoke slowly in a tone that was extremely flat and without a trace of ups and downs.

"You are the Chief of Staff of the Red Army. The dispatch of troops is your job. I have no objection to this."

? ? ?

If there were emoticons in the Patriotic War, I'm afraid that Vasilevsky would throw out a panda head emoticon with three question marks without hesitation.

The deep surprise brought by Zhukov's unexpected and abnormal attitude was no less than the Germans calling off the troops and giving up their positions for Vasilevsky at this moment.

Before Vasilevsky, who was half-opening his mouth, could speak next, Zhukov, holding a pencil in his fingertips, straightened his back from the table and spoke again.

"Vatutin also contacted me specifically. He said that this was a difficult decision he made after thinking over and over again."

"I listened to his statement and situation in full, and finally decided to respect his opinion. This is the opinion I want to express. I have answered. Is there anything else you want to know? I can tell you in detail."

""

Vasilevsky was still struggling with how to deal with the second level of the problem. Unexpectedly, Vatutin had already put an end to the third level.

Although all this came a little suddenly, it was a good thing for Vasilevsky after all, which could save him a lot of trouble in the subsequent conversation with Zhukov.

"In that case, I will immediately arrange for someone to draft an order, and the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade will set off immediately to report to the Voronezh Front."

"It may be a bit redundant, but I will ask one last time, is it really okay to do this?"

The first half of the sentence is from a business perspective, and the second half is a purely personal issue.

It is not true that Zhukov intended to give up the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade from the beginning.

However, after considering the current situation and the overall situation, Zhukov's final answer was still firm.

"You have been talking too much nonsense recently, Comrade Vasilevsky, do you want me to regret it?"