Burning Moscow

Early the next morning, Yumashev organized a military band and held a small ceremony at the airport, arranging for the staff to solemnly lift the coffin containing the remains of the US military pilots and board a transport plane parked on the runway.

After the transport plane, Warren's fighter plane and two escorted naval fighter planes took off, Yumashev accompanied us to another transport plane parked nearby. He apologized to Khrulev: "Comrade Minister, I am sorry, although I also want to prepare a better plane for you, but our conditions are limited. This is the best plane I can provide you."

Khrulev waved to his old friend, and said disapprovingly: "Dear Ivan Stepanovich, we are all old friends. Don't talk about these polite manners. It's already very good to have this kind of airplane ride. Don't worry, I will report to the Supreme Command after I go back and give you enough supplements."

When the door was closed, I asked Khrulev, who was sitting opposite me, amid the huge roar of the aircraft engine: "Comrade Minister, can we rush back to Moscow today?"

When Khrulev heard this question from me, he was a little surprised and said: "How is this possible? Vladivostok is more than 9,000 kilometers away from Moscow. Even the fastest plane can't fly in a day. Besides. Although the C-46 transport plane we took was transformed from the design of a commercial high-altitude passenger plane, its speed does not exceed 300 kilometers per hour. Every two thousand kilometers or so, we add a route, which means we arrive. Before Moscow, we had to land at least four times just to replenish fuel. We could reach Yekaterinburg in the middle of the night, rest there for a night, and rush to Moscow early tomorrow morning, and we will reach our destination in the afternoon."

I heard that I will take a plane for nearly 30 hours, and my head is big. But there is no way. The superiors asked us to return to Moscow in the shortest time. On the road, you have to rush back all the time. If it wasn't for a special attack yesterday, it would be impossible to stay in Vladivostok for one night.

Our plane took off from Vladivostok. Flew west. We landed twice along the way, both of which were refueling at military airfields. Except with Khrulev's consent. You can get off the plane and walk around and move your muscles and bones. Casual actions are forbidden.

When we landed for the third time, we finally arrived at Yekaterinburg, which is located on the border between Europe and Asia. It was already two o'clock in the morning. Khrulev greeted the person in charge of the airport who approached him. After asking them to check the plane and refuel, he turned around and said to the group of us: "Flying for such a long time, I think everyone is tired. You guys. You can sleep for another four hours. The plane will take off again at six in the morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, an airport staff came over and took our entourage to a nearby building to rest. I was hesitating whether to follow the staff, but Khrulev stopped him: "Comrade Oshanina, you don't need to squeeze with them. The person in charge of the airport left us two rooms."

With that said, he shouted to a ground staff standing nearby: "Hey, Comrade Corporal, please come here."

As he shouted. The ground crew not far away ran over and stood in front of us somewhat cautiously. Khrulev pointed to me and told him: "Corporal. You can send this general to the room the commander arranged for us."

The corporal turned his head and glanced at me, nodded, and then made a gesture of inviting me, and said at the same time: "Please, Comrade General, please come with me, and I will show you where you live."

I live in a row of wooden houses far from the runway. Before walking to the row of houses, I looked at the wooden houses near the runway. I asked him curiously: "Comrade Corporal, the comrades we came together. They are all arranged in houses close to the runway. Why is the place where I live. But in other places?"

"That's it, Comrade General." The corporal replied respectfully, "The pilots and mechanics live near the runway, and the place where you are going is where the commanders live. The environment is much better, although There is no heating, but there is a fireplace in the house, so it’s not too cold to sleep at night."

Hearing what the corporal said, I am very satisfied with the arrangement of the person in charge of the airport. Although we did not stay for a long time, only a few short hours, he was very thoughtful and made me think about being next to the plane. The commander, who hadn't seen it clearly, added a bit of favor.

Early the next morning, Khrulev, who was sleeping in the room next to me, knocked on the door and urged me to get up and take the plane. After washing up and walking with Khrulev towards the plane parked on the runway, I couldn't help but mention the person in charge of this airport. Khrulev also agreed and said: "You are right, the commander The clerk considers the issue very comprehensively, and if there is an opportunity in the future, he can be responsible for more important aspects."

Our plane flew in the air for more than seven hours and finally landed at a military airport in Moscow. As soon as Khrulev and I stepped off the gangway, an officer in the uniform of a lieutenant colonel came over, raised his hand to salute Khrulev, and said in a low voice: "Comrade Minister of Logistics, Stalin is waiting for you. , Please come with me."

After speaking, he beckoned to the distance, and a black car drove to our side and stopped slowly. He opened the car door and asked Khrulev to get in the car. When he turned around and saw that I was still standing there, he quickly greeted me: "General Oshanina, why are you still not in the car?"

"However, Comrade Logistics Minister is going to see Comrade Stalin. Isn't it appropriate for me to follow along?" Hearing the Lieutenant Colonel's question, I replied in a flustered manner: "I'll find another car to go back."

"Comrade Stalin hopes to see you when he meets Comrade Minister!" The lieutenant colonel said stiffly, "Please get in the car, and we have to rush back to the Kremlin as soon as possible."

When we arrived at the Kremlin by car, we followed the lieutenant colonel to the outside of Stalin's office. After the lieutenant colonel handed us over to the head of the office, Poskrebeshev, he turned and left. Boskrebeshev stood up from his desk, came over to shake hands with us one by one, let us take off the general coat and hang it on the coat rack, then he turned and walked to the door leading to the inner room, pushing Opened the door, walked in, and closed the door.

After a while, the door of the room opened again, Poskrebeshev walked out of it, smiled and said to us: "Comrade Minister, Comrade Oshanina. Comrade Stalin invites you to come in."

When I followed Khrulev into the room, I couldn't help being taken aback by the situation inside. The conference table next to the wall on the right was full of people. It seems that some important meeting is being held.

Compared with my panic, Khrulev obviously has seen such scenes many times. He raised his hand to salute Stalin who was walking, and then stretched out his hand to hold Stalin's outstretched hand and said calmly, "Hello, Comrade Stalin!"

Stalin shook hands with him and said, "Hello, Comrade Khrulev, you are welcome back."

When Stalin and Khrulev shook hands and walked in front of me, I quickly raised my hands to salute. At the same time, he said nervously: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, I am glad to meet you!"

Stalin's big warm and powerful hand shook my hand and shook it vigorously, "Hello, Lida. I heard Comrade Molotov say that you have performed very well in the United States this time. Later after the meeting is over. , Stay and talk to me about what happened to you in America."

After he released his hand, he pointed in a direction in the meeting and said to Khrulev and me: "We are in a meeting. Sit down and listen."

I found a corner and sat down. I carefully looked at the people sitting around the conference table and found that they all knew Zhukov, Voroshilov, Timoshenko, Ustinov, Rokosovsky, Vatutin, etc. .

When Stalin announced that the meeting would continue. Zhukov stood up from his position and continued: "Comrade Stalin, our troops have been exhausted after a long battle on the right bank of Ukraine. We are in urgent need of replenishment of weapons, ammunition and soldiers. We cannot launch a new offensive in a short time. I suggest that the troops should continue to build fortifications..."

"Comrade Zhukov." Before Zhukov could finish speaking, Stalin interrupted him and said unceremoniously: "We are now discussing how to attack the enemy's defensive positions. To rescue the precarious Kiev defenders, not to discuss. defense."

"The defense I talked about is a last resort measure. Comrade Stalin." Regarding Stalin's duties, Zhukov replied without humility: "After the troops have completed their repairs, they can be fully prepared for the offensive."

"I know, Comrade Zhukov." Stalin said impatiently: "But we watched Kiev's defenders fight alone. If nothing is done, they will be annihilated by the Germans." At this point, he turned and looked down. The commanders around the conference table said slowly, "Let us listen to the opinions of the commanders of the various forces."

As he said, he walked slowly back to his seat and sat down, and said, "First, start with General Rokosovsky’s central front. Comrade Rokosovsky, do you think Zhukov’s view, right? "

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Rokosovsky stood up from his seat and resolutely expressed support for Zhukov: "I think Marshal Zhukov's opinion is like this. My troops suffered some time ago. After the huge losses, the replenishment of soldiers, weapons and ammunition has not been fully completed. I think it is unwise to launch an offensive hastily."

Stalin listened to his words, turned his head to the side, looked at Vatutin who was sitting tightly, and asked noncommitantly: "Comrade Vatutin, what's your opinion?"

Vatutin also hurriedly stood up and replied respectfully: "Comrade Stalin, our current forces are to be used to defend against German attacks that may come from Kharkov, so we cannot deploy our troops to participate in the attack on the German Central Army Group. "

After Stalin listened, the expression on his face did not change, but he continued to sweep from the commanders present. When I was thinking about who he would ask next, I suddenly heard him calling my order.

"Lida, you commanded the troops to seize Kiev." Stalin asked me as he filled his pipe with shredded tobacco, "At present, neither the Central Front nor the Voronezh Front can help them. Tell me, Kiev's. How should the defenders get rid of the current predicament."

I stood up from my position, tried my best to ignore the gazes of the high-ranking generals watching me, looked straight at Stalin and replied: "Comrade Stalin, if the Kiev defenders cannot receive reinforcements and necessary supplements, I think they are It won’t last long. Rather than let them be wiped out in the end, let’s not let General Rebarko give up Kiev..."

"What, give up Kiev." Stalin abruptly got up from his seat, pointed at me with his right finger holding the pipe, and then pointed at the gate I just entered, and said blankly: "You go out first."

Although I don't know why Stalin let me out, I left my position honestly, opened the door and walked out.

As soon as I came to the outside room, Poskrebeshev, who was sitting at the table, stood up, looked back over my shoulder, and asked with some surprise: "Comrade Oshanina, the meeting is over. ?"

I shook my head and replied, "No, the meeting is still going on."

"But, why did you come out of it?" Poskrebeshev was very surprised when I suddenly came out of the conference room, so he asked questioningly: "What happened?"

I took the matter just now, UU reading www.uukanshu. After com simply told Poskrebeshev, his face showed the same expression, and then said to me: "I understand, Comrade Oshanina. You stand in this room first. In a moment, Comrade Stalin will call you in again soon."

Seeing Poskrebeshev sitting down with a smile and continuing to bow his head to work on his own work, I suddenly realized that what I said just now angered Stalin, and he asked me to go to the outside room to punish me. If this is the case, it won't be long before he will let me in.

After a while, the call bell on the desk rang, and Boskrebeshev raised his head and said to me, "Comrade Oshanina, you can go in."

I nodded to Poskrebeshev to express my gratitude, turned around and walked to the door, pushed open the door and walked in.

Seeing me back in the office, Stalin approached me and asked calmly: "Lida, have you figured it out clearly? How can we get the Kiev defenders out of the current predicament?"

"Comrade Stalin," I still stubbornly said: "I think the Kiev defenders, with insufficient equipment, limited forces and no external reinforcements, are the only way to not be annihilated by the Germans, and they can only abandon Kiev. Resolutely jumped out of the German encirclement." (To be continued.)