Chapter 508 Zhukov's Efforts

As the new Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army who succeeded Zhukov, the resourceful and approachable Marshal Shaposhnikov has sufficient control and macro-judgment of the front line.

This veteran of the Red Army is very good at seeing the truth behind the scenes. Marshal Shaposhnikov, who often analyzes and communicates with Zhukov, can always make accurate predictions about the situation on the front line and provide Stalin with the most reliable and trustworthy advice.

But the problem Stalin gave Marshal Shaposhnikov was not so easy to solve. The two reports on the table that Stalin had just pointed at made Marshal Shaposhnikov frown slightly.

"The intelligence line in Berlin sent a message that the Germans are preparing to re-implement a bold and resolute offensive on the Eastern Front, which is no less large than last year's invasion offensive. All German troops on the front will be fully deployed after being fully replenished. The more reliable time for the offensive to start is around mid-April to early May this year."

The intelligence sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs made Stalin determined to take the initiative and prepare in advance. This is the most obvious thing in front of him.

As for the other report, it was first-hand information just received by the National Defense Committee, and even Stalin himself had just finished reading it not long ago.

"Unlike the central assault during the Winter War, this year's main assault direction of the German army was determined to be implemented in the southern section. It is roughly speculated that they will first break through Rostov, then advance to Stalingrad and the Caucasus, and finally march towards the Caspian Sea. The Germans have always been determined to obtain the oil fields in the Caucasus, which is a very important matter."

In the distant future, the authenticity of the two reports placed on Stalin's desk at this moment is beyond doubt. It has to be said that the Soviet intelligence department is indeed very good. The famous Sorge may be the most dazzling star in the Soviet intelligence department, but he is not necessarily the strongest one.

The front battlefield in March was particularly calm.

The Soviet army had already exhausted its counterattack energy from the capital city with its last breath. Now it is trying its best to use the last little time left to replenish its troops and prepare for the upcoming battle this year.

On the other hand, the German army also survived the most exhausting winter, and found a place where no one was shitting to lick its wounds and rest quietly to accumulate attack energy and wait for recovery.

The preparations for war between the Soviet and German armies are obvious at present, and a larger-scale fierce and bloody fight is about to come after the winter snow melts.

Shaposhnikov guessed that after the setbacks of the Winter War, the Germans should not be able to launch a large-scale offensive to encircle the city on three sides and put the Soviet army in danger like the previous Battle of Moscow.

But is the content mentioned in the report reliable? Which route will the Germans choose as the main attack direction? When, where and with how many troops will they attack the Soviet army?

Too many complex questions lingered in Marshal Shaposhnikov's mind. As the chief of the Red Army's general staff, he even asked himself that he could not give Stalin a responsible, accurate and reliable answer and advice.

After the cruel 1941, Marshal Shaposhnikov, as a responsible and qualified chief of staff, could no longer give Stalin any answer that could be explained in a few words.

Facing Marshal Shaposhnikov's slow shaking of his head after falling into contemplation, Comrade Stalin, a kind father in a very good mood, rarely got angry but nodded slowly and seriously.

Since one person can't make up his mind, brainstorming, Stalin decided to hold a meeting of the Supreme Command on the summer offensive in advance immediately.

Two days later, the Soviet generals who attended this important meeting were all stars, including Kotin's father-in-law Marshal Voroshilov, Marshal Timoshenko, and Marshal Shaposhnikov. General Zhukov, who had hurried back from the front, was also present, as well as General Vasilevsky, the director of the Operations Department of the General Staff of the Red Army.

Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was selected by Stalin as the narrator, first explained the content of the overall strategic situation on the front to the generals present, and then spoke out the very important final conclusion.

"After combining various intelligence analyses, the General Staff believes that the German army will continue to launch an attack on the Moscow direction on the central front in the summer operations."

Rather than saying that Marshal Shaposhnikov and the General Staff thought so, it is better to say that Comrade Stalin, a somewhat arbitrary father, made this very hasty conclusion himself.

Considering the upcoming summer campaign from the perspective of a politician, Stalin did not agree very much with the strategic intention of the intelligence department that the German army would attack on the southern front.

With Moscow already on the verge of defeat, Stalin judged that the hungry Hitler would once again command his puppet fascist army to continue to attack the heart of the entire Soviet Union.

Zhukov, who was always thinking about the words that Malashenko had told him a few days ago, felt that the situation was going in a very bad direction and began to think about the content of his upcoming speech.

"Okay, comrades, after listening to Marshal Shaposhnikov's explanation, what do you think now? You can speak freely, for example, should our next action be to remain on the defensive or to attack instead of defend."

Stalin's personal subjective idea was undoubtedly to take the initiative and launch a counterattack, but as a superior, his mentality still made him want to listen to the thoughts of his generals.

Zhukov, who was a little confused in his head, hardly paid attention to the speeches of the marshals and generals in front of him and turned a deaf ear. When the right to speak was transferred to Zhukov and it was his turn to speak, Zhukov, who was still thinking about how to persuade Stalin, almost didn't react.

"I advocate defense, Comrade Stalin."

Completely opposite to the content of Marshal Timoshenko's speech, Zhukov, who had a very clear judgment on the war situation, chose the most negative approach in Stalin's view.

"Based on my recent inspections on the front line, I think the German army has recovered from the winter setback! However, our army has suffered a great loss in strength and technical equipment, and it needs time to replenish and recuperate. Add to that The weather is getting warmer, and after the muddy road period is over, it will soon become conducive for the German army to launch an offensive. In the next stage, I recommend that our army adopt a strategic defensive posture."

Before Zhukov could finish his words, a roar from Stalin forcibly interrupted his speech.

"Comrade Zhukov! I must remind you! We are now determining the summer operation plan. We cannot be too passive and conservative, otherwise we will lose all the advantages gained in the winter war! We must launch a comprehensive counterattack based on local defense to destroy the Germans. Their offensive deployment disrupted their position. Only in this way can they completely seize the initiative on the battlefield! "

Zhukov, who was scolded by his loving father in public, did not say a word. Zhukov, who suffered a big loss after being beaten to the end for contradicting Stalin, became shrewd. If he wanted to continue serving the motherland, he could not continue to defy Stalin in public at this time, so he simply sat back on his chair without saying a word.

Stalin took a breath and saw Zhukov sitting back in his seat without saying a word. He thought that Zhukov, who was always known for his bullish temper, was presupposing his own opinions, and then began to deliver a long speech that he had prepared to the generals present.

The content of Stalin's speech is nothing more than that the war has now entered a critical period, and the Red Army soldiers need to unite to drive the Germans out of the motherland.

Stalin repeatedly emphasized that the Germans were short of troops and difficult to replenish, and that they were now unable to carry out a full-scale offensive. The Red Army must engage in active defense, actively accumulate strength, and launch an unstoppable counterattack. It must proactively attack at the appropriate time to completely disrupt the German offensive deployment, thereby completely seizing the initiative on the battlefield.

This meeting that decided the fate of the Soviet army in 1942 ultimately failed to change because of Malashenko's little persuasion.

Zhukov, who was worried that he would be beaten to the end by Stalin again, did not choose to bully him in the end. Zhukov, who was familiar with Stalin's temper and character, knew very well that the current battle must be fought. This was the supreme leader's absolute will that could not be disobeyed.

With Stalin finalizing the counterattack plan of the Red Army General Staff Headquarters, the 1942 war machine that almost prevented Malashenko from dying in Stalingrad finally slowly turned on its first gear.