Chapter 632 The Loving Father Is Calling

The form before us is now very clear.

The main force of the German army that forcibly crossed the Don River had already marched straight into the city of Stalingrad. Their guns and guns were loaded. The Soviet army, which had lost all its positions in the suburbs around the city, had to withdraw to the outskirts of the city after suffering heavy losses.

Intensive bombing turned this heavy industrial city into ruins, and the war reached its most critical moment after it ended on August 23.

The report from Vasilevsky made the loving father Comrade Stalin, who was sitting in the Kremlin in Moscow, restless.

The extremely similar situation now reminds Stalin of the tragic situation in Kiev last year.

The same failure to listen to Zhukov's advice led to a series of subsequent chain reaction failures. The same was true when the German troops approached the city and they were surrounded by water. Hundreds of thousands of Red Army soldiers were also surrounded in a pocket with the city as the center point. It's hard to fly with wings inside

Too many historical similarities made Stalin feel upset. He was worried that the same tragic defeat as in Kiev last year would befall the city where he once led his troops to fight again.

In this city once named Tsaritsyn, Stalin personally led the newly reborn Red Army to repel the Cossack attack.

At that time, the city of Tsaritsyn was short of food, weapons and ammunition. As soon as it heard the news that the Cossacks were coming, it immediately broke into chaos, people were panicked and morale was low. People with ulterior motives even spread fearful rumors in the army, and the chaotic team faced the risk of collapse at any time.

In this case, Stalin, who personally took charge of the battle, used thunderous means to solve the problem.

A large number of incompetent officers who spread fearful rumors were directly dismissed from their posts by Stalin and investigated. Deserters and defeated soldiers were shot on the spot as the most serious method to improve battlefield discipline.

Tsaritsyn, who was saved by "Stalin's will", later changed his name to Stalingrad. When the city he fought in once again faced a severe crisis, Stalin, who was sitting behind his desk and immersed in the memories of that year, still firmly believed. He can turn the tide and allow this once great city to survive the difficulties and continue to be great.

During last year's battle in Kiev, Stalin rejected Zhukov's suggestion and pushed it to the end. During this year's summer offensive, Zhukov became the target of Stalin's anger and was scolded and then sat on the bench.

The only difference is that at the current time point, the war situation in Stalingrad has not yet deteriorated to the point where it was as hopeless as it was at the end of the Battle of Kiev last year, enough to make Stalin regret it.

History has proven Zhukov's suggestion correct twice in a row. Even Stalin, who considered the issue from the perspective of a political leader, must admit this objective fact. If Zhukov takes action now, maybe the war situation can still be saved, and maybe he can create a miracle like last year's Battle of Moscow.

Thinking of this, Stalin, who had no problem with losing face, immediately made a decision. He immediately raised his right arm and pressed the button on the table.

"Comrade Leader, what are your orders?"

Facing the secretary who pushed open the door and responded, Stalin, with firm eyes, gave the order decisively and almost without hesitation.

"Go call Zhukov and ask him to come to the Supreme Command and tell him that he has been appointed Deputy Supreme Commander!"

When he received this call from Moscow, Zhukov was organizing an offensive in the Pogoreloye Gorodishe area on the front line. This call from the Supreme Leader's Secretary Boskrebyshev caught Zhukov off guard.

"What? Go back to Moscow? Now? Can you tell me why?"

The roar of guns and artillery was heard on the battlefield on the front line. Zhukov set up his headquarters in a place where he could hear the roar of war. Even Stalin's secretary Poskrebyshev on the other end of the phone could hear it clearly.

"The National Defense Committee has studied the current frontline war situation and decided to appoint you as deputy supreme commander. At the same time, it requires you to hand over your work and return to the Supreme Command in Moscow as soon as possible. This is the order of Comrade Leader."

Boskrebyshev chose to avoid talking about Zhukov's several questions on the phone.

Because the Germans' message monitoring and intelligence reconnaissance methods were so powerful, Stalin, who had suffered countless losses in keeping secrets, repeatedly gave orders to those around him.

It is required to only talk about the most important things on the phone, and not to say a word of unnecessary nonsense. Try to leave the discussion in person, especially when calling frontline troops who lack communication security equipment.

Zhukov, who was not sure why, could feel that something big must have happened in Moscow. He immediately handed over the work at hand as quickly as possible according to Stalin's order. After the handover was completed, he left the Western Front under his command and embarked on his return to the Supreme Command. We took a special plane and flew to Moscow as scheduled that night.

It was already nine o'clock in the evening when Zhukov stepped into Stalin's office. Stalin, who was discussing the situation of the Stalingrad front line with several defense committee members, did not shy away from suspicion and directly revealed the truth to Zhukov straight to the point.

"We have encountered difficulties, Comrade Zhukov. The battle situation on the front line is particularly bad. The German invaders may capture Stalingrad at any time. The situation in the Caucasus is also bad. I asked you to return to Moscow to solve these problems."

When he boarded the special plane back to Moscow, Zhukov had already thought that Stalin would send him to the Stalingrad battlefield on the southern front. To be honest, the situation there even Zhukov himself was not completely sure of winning.

Although he thought so in his heart, Zhukov did not choose to say it out loud, because Stalin's expression clearly showed that he was about to continue talking.

"The National Defense Committee has made a decision to appoint you as the deputy supreme commander, responsible for all defense in the direction of Stalingrad."

At this point, Stalin cast his eyes with obvious expectation more accurately at Zhukov.

"We must not lose this city! You have been granted full authority. The two fronts and all other aviation units on the front are under your command. Just ask about the strategic reserve. As long as Moscow can do it, it will fully support you!"

Since the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, no general on the front line has ever been granted such great power by Stalin. This is almost equivalent to Stalin putting all his chips and hopes on Zhukov alone.

Zhukov was brewing in his mind how to answer Stalin, but the fatherly comrade's endless words followed again.