Chapter 183: Wake Up

Zhukov, who knew Stalin's intention in his heart, was full of gratitude and soon spoke again.

"Comrade Stalin, before leaving, I want to bring a few people from the General Staff in Moscow with me. After arriving in Leningrad, it will be convenient for me to carry out further work."

Stalin did not think much about Zhukov's small request after waving his hand.

"Take whoever you want to take with you. Tell Comrade Shaposhnikov that it was my personal order."

After saying this, Stalin paused for a moment, and then changed the topic again, still worried about the direction of the Ukrainian theater in the south.

"The situation in the southwest is very bad now. We have decided to reorganize the highest command of the front. Who do you think is the most suitable to be the new commander?"

Even though he forcibly dismissed Zhukov from the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army in anger and dismissed him to the end, Stalin, who was troubled by the problem, could not help but seek military advice and solutions from Zhukov.

This has nothing to do with Stalin's personal subjective will or not. It is purely due to Zhukov's diligence in always bringing the best solutions to Stalin when he was the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army.

Faced with the advice that the supreme leader asked him, Zhukov quickly gave a positive answer after a little thought.

"Marshal Timoshenko performed very well in commanding the battles of the newly formed Western Front. Although there were some failures in the process, this was not due to Marshal Timoshenko's command ability but objective factors. Moreover, Marshal Timoshenko is very familiar with the problems and situations in the Ukrainian direction, and the marshal's prestige will also help stabilize the morale of the army. I suggest sending Marshal Timoshenko to take office, Comrade Stalin."

Stalin, who rolled his eyes, did not comment on the feasibility of Zhukov's suggestion and quickly continued to ask questions.

"Then do you have any good suggestions for the vacant commander position of the Western Front?"

As the most powerful Red Army force blocking Moscow and the German Central Army Group, the importance of the Western Front, which has the strongest combat strength in the entire Red Army sequence, is unquestionable. The selection of the commander of the Western Front will be related to the survival of the entire Soviet regime in the precarious future, and Stalin cannot help but be cautious.

Zhukov, who knew the importance of the selection of the commander of the Western Front, did not give Stalin an answer immediately. The Red Army war god, who knew all the famous generals of the Red Army because he served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, thought for several minutes, and then slowly raised his head in Stalin's expectant eyes and gave the answer to the supreme leader.

"Comrade Stalin, I suggest that Lieutenant General Konev, the commander of the 19th Army, be appointed to replace Marshal Timoshenko as the new commander of the Western Front."

"Lieutenant General Konev?"

Zhukov was a little surprised by the answer he gave. After all, Konev, who was still unknown in 1941, was far from the glorious military exploits of commanding the steel torrent to march to Berlin at the end of the Great Patriotic War. At present, he was just an inconspicuous army commander among millions of Red Army soldiers.

Although he had some doubts about Zhukov's answer, Stalin finally nodded and agreed to Zhukov's recommendation after a little thought, based on his trust in Zhukov.

The conversation was almost over at this point.

Just when Stalin wanted to have a final discussion with Zhukov on the war in the Kiev direction, Zhukov suddenly spoke up and interrupted Stalin's thoughts and spoke first.

"Comrade Stalin, there is one very important thing that I think deserves your and the entire Supreme Command's attention. That is, our opponent, the Germans, may have begun to develop new tanks to break the absolute tank quality advantage currently held by our army on the front line."

"Tanks, an important land warfare technical weapon with great offensive power, have always been the absolute mainstay of the German blitzkrieg tactics. The German blitzkrieg without armored troops is like a toothless tiger, and now the teeth of this German blitzkrieg tiger are becoming increasingly dull in front of our tanks. The Germans' research and development progress of new tanks must be given enough attention by us!"

As a political and military double dictator, Stalin's personal favorite weapons are mainly two types.

Powerful tanks and large-caliber heavy artillery with thicker tubes.

To some extent, this is quite similar to the German head of state Hitler who stood on the opposite side. This has to be said to be a very wonderful and surprising relationship.

Stalin's emphasis and love for the Red Army tanks have always been well known.

Whenever Stalin went to inspect the grassroots units of the Red Army, he would always go to see the new steel behemoths in service in the Red Army tank units.

When Moscow held a grand Red Square military parade, the scene of the all-new Red Army tank columns roaring through the Red Square was always the happiest time for Comrade Stalin.

And now, when Stalin, who loved tanks, a heavy land warfare weapon with strong armor and powerful guns, heard what Zhukov said, the fatherly comrade frowned immediately and spoke to Zhukov in a deep voice.

"How can you be sure that the Germans are developing new tanks? Do you have any basis, Zhukov?"

Seeing that Stalin was skeptical about his reminder, Zhukov, who remembered that he had felt the same as Stalin, immediately told the doubtful supreme leader the words that Malashenko had told him to persuade him.

After hearing Zhukov's words, Stalin's heart was not overwhelmed, but he was still thinking for a long time.

After a while, when Comrade Kind Father, with a slightly tired look in his eyes, raised his head again, the warnings and reminders brought by Malashenko from the future had finally worked on Stalin.

"Maybe you are right, Zhukov. I will hold a meeting on the future tank plan of our Red Army at the Supreme Command as soon as possible. At that time, I will ask senior tank engineers such as Morozov and Kotin to attend. In addition, you should compile all the elements you just told me into a complete report and hand it to me. It will be used at the meeting."

"As for the signature of the report, are these all your own ideas? Zhukov."

After listening to Stalin's question, he smiled faintly, realizing that the Soviet leader was also like himself at the beginning. He was also awakened by Malashenko's conclusion that sounded very shocking and avant-garde. Zhukov, who had no intention of taking credit for Malashenko's work, slowly spoke to Stalin.

"No, Comrade Stalin, I think the name of Major Malashenko should be added at the end of the report."