Chapter 847 Acknowledgement

Another significance of the 21st Armored Division's encounter with the "Tiger" in the village of Malivo is that the German army has completed the encirclement of the middle zone, and the 2nd SS Panzer Corps has also got rid of the entanglement of the Soviet troops.

This situation shocked Stalin so much that he immediately ordered Zhukov, who was commanding the offensive in the direction of Orel, to report to him in Moscow.

But even so, Stalin still behaved extremely calmly... He always gave people the impression of being calm and unhurried, even though sometimes he was actually very anxious.

"Comrade Zhukov!" Stalin asked: "Are you still planning to continue this battle?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Zhukov replied: "We did suffer heavy losses in Prokhorovka, but I believe the enemy is not easy either. This can be seen from their inability to launch a counterattack against the 5th Guards Armored Army. I can tell!"

"Maybe you are right!" Stalin said: "The German 48th Panzer Army may indeed be unable to attack, but have you considered the 2nd SS Panzer Army? Although they were once entangled by our 'fire pockets' and unable to advance , but because of the investment in new heavy tanks... we have been unable to cause effective damage to them! In other words, the 2nd SS Panzer Army still has many tanks, and they are even much more powerful than the 48th Panzer Army. many."

After a pause, Stalin continued: "What's more important is their 'tracking rockets'. The Germans probably equipped them to two different armies in order to test the performance of these two new types of equipment. Facts It also proves that both types of equipment are very effective... the 'tracking rockets' can easily penetrate the front armor of our tanks at long distances, and the 'elephant' can withstand any of our artillery attacks. And now, they are about to be combined. An army! Do you have the confidence to stop them?"

Zhukov couldn't help but be speechless. If he said he could stop them, it would be a lie. The heavy casualties of the 5th Guards Tank Army was a clear proof. Although they seem to have found a tactic that can suppress "tracking rockets", Zhukov knows best the dangers of this equipment... The most important thing about it is that it is simple and convenient, and can be equipped in batches among infantry and deployed quickly. As long as the number is large enough, it cannot be suppressed.

To put it simply, the Soviet Union hoped to flood the enemy with a torrent of tanks, but the "tracking rockets" in the hands of the enemy could form a torrent of rockets, and it was a precise torrent of rockets that destroyed the Soviet tanks one by one.

After thinking about it, Zhukov said: "Comrade Stalin, we order the 5th Guards Tank Army to block the German armored forces in the south. At the same time, we invest more troops in the direction of Orel. We will win in a few days. "

What Zhukov said actually makes sense.

Because the armored forces rely heavily on roads and railways, a large part of the reason why the 48th Armored Division was allowed to fight all the way to Prokhorovka in a few days was because the Soviet army did not expect the 48th Armored Corps to be so capable. The strong combat effectiveness can easily defeat the 5th Guards Tank Corps that intercepted them.

So no damage was done along the way.

But now, the German 48th Panzer Army and the 2nd SS Panzer Army are temporarily blocked south of Prokhorovka, so the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army can retreat while laying mines and breaking roads, just like the German army withdrew from Stalin Same as Gullah.

In this way, there is actually no need to fight at all, and the marching speed of the German 48th Panzer Corps and the 2nd SS Panzer Corps will definitely be greatly affected.

As a result, the Soviet army could continue its plan to encircle the German army.

Stalin shook his head slightly and replied: "Comrade Zhukov, from the moment we knew that the Germans had 'tracking rockets', our attack was doomed to fail. Do you understand?"

"Comrade Stalin..."

"This is the information on the 'tracking rocket'!" Stalin said, placing a document in front of Zhukov: "We estimate that its total weight is only about twenty kilograms, which means that it can be quickly transported to any place by air. There will be such 'tracking rockets' everywhere on the highlands, in the grass, and in the woods, but we hope to use a large number of tanks to cover the infantry to penetrate the German logistics..."

Stalin shook his head: "Before our tank troops could penetrate to their destination, our tanks had already been destroyed or lost most of them by these 'tracking rockets'. Our penetrating troops would only be sent up to Germany. surrounded by people, because they will be massacred by the German armored forces, just when our tank troops are exhausted!"

Zhukov couldn't help but break into a cold sweat after hearing this, because he could not refute Stalin's deduction.

What Zhukov didn't know was that there seemed to be no problem with Stalin's deduction. The characteristics of the ME63 were here. Cheap and convenient rockets could be used in exchange for much more expensive tanks. If the ME63 was expanded infinitely, then the war would continue. The side using tanks eventually collapsed because they could not afford the losses.

The problem is that ME63 does not mean that everyone can use it. As mentioned before, its training is not simple, and without long-term and effective training, it will be difficult to even control the ME63 to fly smoothly without hitting the ground. , let alone controlling it to hit the target.

However, neither Stalin nor Zhukov knew this, so they misjudged the so-called "tracking rockets."

"So..." Stalin finally concluded: "It is necessary to delay the German armored forces in the south, but not for attack, but for retreat!"

Although Zhukov was 120% reluctant, he still had to stand up and answer: "I obey unconditionally, Comrade Stalin!"

"We cannot let the troops in Kursk suffer the same fate as the middle zone!" Stalin said: "In the middle zone, we are only two divisions plus a tank regiment surrounded. If the Germans occupy Kursk, our entire central zone will be surrounded." The entire army will be trapped in their encirclement. We can no longer bear such losses!"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!"

After Zhukov left, Stalin took out his pipe and started smoking.

In fact, Stalin had to struggle for a long time before issuing the order just now, because it meant admitting that the war had been lost, and more than that, it was like the whole world announcing that the Soviet Union had failed...if it could not recapture the Baku oil fields, then It means that the Soviet Union is unable to succeed, and it also means that the Soviet Union will fall into absolute passivity strategically.

Now, what Stalin has to consider is how to persuade the United States and Britain to open a second battlefield as soon as possible.