Chapter 1476: Misunderstood

"Tell me about the current situation of Malashenko and Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division, Vatutin. Comrade Stalin has always been concerned about this unit named after him, and specifically asked me to find out the situation this time."

Since the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, Malashenko has been working under Vatutin.

First, in Kursk, Vatutin called Comrade Stalin and forced him to join his army. He fought the Germans on the southern line of Kursk.

Then, the Battle of Cherkasy followed, and Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division was reorganized under Vatutin's 1st Ukrainian Front, participating in the war as the most elite division-level tank unit of the entire front.

Zhukov, who had not used Malashenko and his troops for a long time, was also concerned about them. This Red Army tank hero, who was promoted by him as a mentor, has so far achieved too many legendary results.

There is another small episode about Malashenko that Zhukov now finds quite interesting and a little surprising.

This is what happened

The Moscow Supreme Command held a routine meeting a while ago to discuss the recent frontline situation and the Red Army's next action strategy. The people attending the meeting were naturally big names. Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Voroshilov and others all attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by our supreme leader Comrade Stalin.

What surprised Zhukov was that Khrushchev, a guy who had nothing to do with him, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was specially allowed to attend the meeting by Comrade Stalin.

Since the Red Army's war has been progressing smoothly in recent times, this routine meeting of the Supreme Command was held in a relaxed atmosphere.

When the meeting was about to end, Khrushchev, a glutton who had eaten too much corn cobs and had nothing to do, suddenly asked to speak and proposed to Comrade Stalin about the selection of heroes.

It is said that Comrade Katukov is good at commanding tank troops to defeat the enemy from the front and has achieved many results. Comrade Katukov should be awarded a Soviet Hero Medal and then reported to the whole army to boost morale and set an example. This will be very useful for crushing and disintegrating the enemy's resistance. Khrushchev claimed that the Red Army now needs a dose of hero encouragement to boost morale.

This matter could have been discussed privately after the meeting, but because the atmosphere at this meeting was relatively relaxed, everyone talked about nothing urgent. So when Khrushchev brought this up, no one objected, and everyone thought about it. There were even many people who agreed with Khrushchev's idea and thought it should be promoted again.

But what no one expected was that our loving father Comrade Stalin shook his beard while holding a cigarette butt in his hand and puffed out smoke, and then opened his mouth to give his own different ideas.

"I think the idea of ​​establishing a heroic image to promote and inspire is okay. I agree and support it. But Comrade Khrushchev, don't you think that if we choose an officer from the tank unit to promote and shape, there will be someone more suitable than Comrade Katukov?"

"Uh"

Khrushchev was embarrassed by Comrade Cifu's question on the spot, and was caught off guard and embarrassed for a moment. He didn't think about what to say for a long time.

With Khrushchev's IQ, he would not fail to understand Stalin's words. He quickly understood who Comrade Stalin was hinting at.

But to be honest, Khrushchev had never negotiated with this person, especially the last time he met him, he didn't even say hello. Although it may be that he didn't see me or was in a hurry, Khrushchev never thought of recommending this person to Comrade Stalin from beginning to end. Why should he say good things to him when he has no relationship with me?

I never thought that this man actually had some weight in Comrade Stalin's eyes. This time, he failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice, and he made himself embarrassed.

The high-ranking figures who often hang out in Moscow know that Comrade Stalin's rhetorical questions are particularly difficult to answer. If you say something wrong, you will get into trouble. Not everyone has the qualifications to quarrel with Comrade Stalin like Zhukov.

"Uh, Comrade Stalin, I am just suggesting, just suggesting. You see, Comrade Katukov is also brave in combat and a role model, isn't he? Of course, he is a little worse than Comrade Malashenko. I neglected to consider this for a while. Next time I will think more carefully before speaking, I will definitely."

Khrushchev's demeanor when he said this was quite nervous and even at a loss, for fear that he would get into trouble if he said something wrong. The whole person sitting there looked quite funny, while Comrade Stalin sat there without saying a word, holding a cigarette butt and listening quietly.

Zhukov felt like laughing at this scene. He guessed that Khrushchev wanted to take the opportunity to show off himself and make a good suggestion to let Comrade Stalin praise him. Unexpectedly, this flattery backfired. The suggestion was completely contrary to Comrade Stalin's idea and was a world away from it.

"Comrade Stalin has always cared about the division named after him, and Malashenko, but some people just returned to Moscow and didn't know about it."

Taking advantage of the opportunity that Comrade Stalin was looking through the important documents that his secretary had just sent and was blocked from view, Vasilevsky, who was sitting next to Zhukov, whispered something to his friend. Zhukov responded with a slight nod with a slight smile on his face, and did not say much. He seemed to be in a very good mood.

Malashenko, who was promoted by him, caught the eye of Comrade Stalin, which was also good for Zhukov himself who had a keen eye for talent.

"Well, in that case, let's stop here for now."

"Zhukov, before you go back to the front, draft a commendation telegram to inform the entire army. Vatutin called me yesterday to tell me that Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division went deep into the enemy's rear alone, causing chaos in the enemy's rear, and destroyed a large number of the enemy's elite troops and support troops, which played a very important role in the smooth progress of the Cherkasy Campaign. This is very good!"

"For the front-line commanders and fighters who have taken on important tasks and have outstanding performance, we must give corresponding commendations and honors! The war to defend the motherland and the Soviet Union has reached a critical turning point, and this time requires the heroic fighting of all the Red Army."

"I hope you can bring the spirit of this meeting back to the troops and the front line. The Red Army needs more outstanding front-line commanders and fighters like Comrade Malashenko."