Chapter 1783 Echo From Moscow (Part 1)

Beria has a habit, a habit that has been formed for a long time.

Every time he reports to Comrade Stalin, he will first observe Comrade Stalin's facial expression to see what state he is in. Even if some things must be reported truthfully, it is also necessary to decide how to say it according to Comrade Stalin's facial expression. Different ways of speaking will achieve different results. Even if the narrative facts remain unchanged, this is inevitable.

And from Comrade Stalin's expression today, the Supreme Leader is obviously in a very good mood, and it can even be said that he is smiling and happy to see people.

Beria certainly knows why this is the case. In fact, he came for this matter. Stalin specifically asked him to make a report and the materials have been sorted out.

"I think you should bring news worth celebrating, Beria, am I right?"

Since entering the wartime state, Comrade Stalin rarely jokes with others, even the core team members who are closely around him. Beria has forgotten when Comrade Stalin last joked with him like today.

While keeping Comrade Stalin's every word, action, and expression in mind, the answer came out immediately.

"Yes, Comrade Stalin, our intelligence network in Berlin has sent back the latest news, which is reliable enough. There are two good news in total, one is about the front and the other is about Berlin. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Oh? Both?"

Needless to say, just looking at Comrade Stalin's interested look, you can tell that the Supreme Leader is interested. After a little thought, the answer came out immediately.

"Then let's talk about the front first. I care more about the war on the front. This is the most important thing for us. The internal struggles within the enemy have been uninterrupted. We can talk about it slowly first."

What Stalin wanted to hear, he said first. Beria had thought about it before entering the office, and of course he was actually doing so now.

"The enemy's Central Army Group Commander Model is in big trouble, Comrade Stalin. The huge defeat on the front line has almost caused him to lose Hitler's trust. We have sufficient evidence to show that this has a lot to do with the annihilation of the Grossdeutschland Division."

While explaining in advance, Beria also took out a report that he had prepared in advance from his briefcase and took the initiative to hand it to Stalin, so that Stalin could understand it more thoroughly and in detail while listening to his report and combining it with the written text.

"Hitler was furious because of this. Our intelligence personnel could not access the specific content of the meeting, but it is said that the scolding was so loud that even the guards in the corridor outside the door could hear it clearly. Most people were driven out of the office, leaving only a few people to be scolded and spit on, almost all kinds of foul language was used."

"Although such things often happen after 43 years, this time is different. The degree of anger is far greater than any previous time we know. Of course, this may also be caused by the assassination incident. The accumulated negative emotions found a suitable opportunity to release. This is not uncommon in our intelligence work."

Comrade Cifu, who was holding the report and reading while listening to the explanation, was very interested. After turning the last page, he immediately replied to Beria.

"So, the enemy's Central Army Group may change its commander again? Have you found any specific information in this regard?"

Comrade Stalin's analysis was correct, but the subsequent development of the truth was slightly different from this. The situation that Beria mastered and understood was enough to give a slowly shaking head answer.

"If Hitler had such an idea, it must have been suppressed by now."

"It is not a wise choice to suddenly change the commander when the war is imminent. The senior officers of the Wehrmacht in Berlin tried to make him understand all this, and it seemed to work after the rage. Model still has one last chance, which is described in the intelligence we can access, but we don't know what the "last chance" specifically means."

"The only thing that is certain is that the distrust between each other and the random interference in the command of the front line have become more serious. Model may make many seemingly incomprehensible moves in the next battle, just like the enemy's sudden adjustment of the strategic direction this time puzzled us."

"This is just a probabilistic event. It depends on the specific situation. How will the enemy handle and proceed next? We will continue to pay attention to this matter, Comrade Stalin. I have ordered this to be the top priority of the intelligence system. Once there is the latest situation, I will report to you immediately. At the same time, our troops must be prepared to adapt to changes. Any situation may occur in the next battle. This is the inevitable result of the fierce collision of two completely different commands in the same army. "

The reasons for Model's abnormal actions and seemingly "anti-intellectual behavior" in this battle have been found out by Beria. They are due to the interference of the top brain in Berlin in the specific strategic and tactical planning of the front line. This report was submitted to Stalin yesterday and was learned at the first time.

But this fact is not the most important. The most important thing is that Stalin finds the way the high-level leaders of the Wehrmacht execute orders simply funny.

Knowing that the order had major problems and was actually unenforceable, no one dared to make it clear in front of the head of state. They all looked at each other with wide eyes.

In the office of the Chancellery, they played the game of Xu Shu entering Cao Ying without saying a word, and the head of state said whatever he said, as if there was no problem in the execution of the order and it would be 100% implemented. At least that was the illusion created for the head of state.

But when the order was implemented from top to bottom, the real situation was not like this.

Starting from the level of the German Army Command and the General Staff, they actually knew exactly how bad the situation on the front line had deteriorated. It was impossible for the highest order to be faithfully implemented. From an objective and realistic perspective, it was impossible to do it first, but no one dared not to execute the order or do nothing. So what should we do?

Simple, let's modify the order and execute it to the best of our ability and the actual situation on the front line. In this way, we can not only have a clear conscience for the identity and honor of the soldiers, but also do our best, right? It's like killing two birds with one stone. May my great Germany be invincible!

So, the order Model received was actually a modified order after being passed on.

Did Model know this? Of course he knew it, given his status and position.

But this guy also had a "good understanding" with the German Army Command and the General Staff. I would do whatever you told me to do. I would pretend to be confused and not question or confirm the authenticity of the order. Anyway, even if the real order fell into my hands, I couldn't do it. It's better to take the order that I can do and do the best I can.

As for what this so-called "best" is, Model himself has no idea. He can only say that he will do his best and leave it to fate.