Burning Moscow

Vasilevsky was deeply impressed by the alarm I was ringing. He nodded, and then began to record with pen and paper. At the same time, he said to himself: "...defend first, then counterattack, this idea Yes, it coincides with the ideas of Marshal Zhukov and me."

After he finished writing, he put the pen in his hand on the table and asked me when he raised his head and asked me: "Lida, if there is a fierce battle between our army and the German army in the Kursk protrusion, what do you think will end in the end? "

Naturally, I knew the meaning of the Battle of Kursk better than anyone else, but when I heard Vasilevsky's question, I didn't answer immediately, but pretended to be contemplative. After a while, I replied: "Comrade Marshal, the outcome of the battle is undoubtedly our army's final victory. After losing a large number of soldiers and weapons and equipment, the German army tried to regain the strategic initiative and attack Moscow again. The plan will be completely shattered. I estimate that at that time the German army will be unable to launch a strategic offensive, but can only adopt a passive defensive strategy until they are finally defeated. And all the commanders of our army will be because of this time. Victory, while morale is high, officially began a large-scale all-out attack to regain the country.

After I had finished speaking, Vasilevsky and Shumilov looked at each other, then smiled and said to me: "Lida, I didn't expect you to be so optimistic about the future of this battle."

When Vasilevsky said this, I laughed without saying a word, but said in my heart: The battle of Kursk in history only lasted more than 50 days, and the Soviet army won the final victory. Now that the Soviet army is equipped with tanks that surpassed this era, it would be incredible if it could not defeat the German army and shorten the course of the battle.

Vasilevsky paused for a while and asked Shumilov and me: "I said, comrades, two commanders of the group army, have you noticed anything unusual recently?"

Abnormal situation? Vasilevsky's words made me fall into contemplation. I tried to think about whether anything special happened recently, otherwise Vasilevsky would not ask that suddenly. It's a pity that I thought about it for a long time, but I didn't think of a reason. Finally, I could only shook my head honestly and replied: "I'm sorry. Comrade Soviet Marshal, I really didn't notice anything special recently."

Seeing that there was no answer from us, Vasilevsky turned his gaze to Shumilov, waiting for his answer. I saw Shumilov, who had been thinking hard just now, and his frown suddenly stretched out, with a smile on his face. He said cautiously: "Comrade Vasilevsky, if I am not mistaken, the number of German Air Force dispatches has decreased significantly recently. In the past, their aircraft often bombed the defensive positions we were building. Or they used machine guns to shoot at the transport convoy. , Every time we have caused dozens or even hundreds of casualties, but when our plane arrived, they had already escaped. When our plane departed, they re-emerged. I don’t know how in the past few days. What's the matter, it's rare to see enemy planes all day long."

When Shumilov said this, I felt that it was really the case. When I went to inspect the defensive positions before, I encountered enemy air strikes many times. In one of them, the roof of my car was even punched out by a swooping enemy plane. If we hadn't happened to hide in a nearby air-raid shelter at that time, I would have lost my life.

I was thinking, and suddenly I heard Vasilevsky ask me: "Lida. What's the situation in your place? Have you been harassed by enemy planes recently?"

"No, Comrade Soviet Marshal, I rarely see enemy planes appearing in my defense zone recently." After answering Vasilevsky's question, I couldn't help but ask the question in my heart: "What is this? What's the matter?"

"What else is going on, of course, is the result of our air force's active attack." Vasilievsky said with a smile: "It is precisely because our air force has achieved brilliant results and eliminated a large number of German fighters, so it entered the library. The number of enemy aircraft in the Lsk region has been greatly reduced."

"Dear Alexander Mikhailovich, tell us quickly. What is going on." Vasilevsky's words not only aroused my great interest, but also excited Shumilov. He couldn't wait to ask: "How many German planes did our air force wipe out?"

Before Vasilevsky could speak, there was a soft tapping sound from the door. Then the door was pushed open from the outside, and the female ensign swayed at the door and disappeared. I was asking what happened to Shumilov, but saw the female second lieutenant walk in with a tray smiling.

She came to the table, put a cup of tea in front of Vasilievsky, and put a cup of tea on the table near me and Shumilov respectively, and then began to put the carefully prepared refreshments. Shumilov waited for her to finish all this, waved to her, and ordered: "Comrade Ensign, you go out first, no one is allowed to come in without my instructions."

The female second lieutenant agreed and turned and left Shumilov's office with a tray. Seeing his subordinates turned back and closed the door, Shumilov urged Vasilievsky: "Okay, Comrade Vasilevsky, there are only three of us left here, you can say it with confidence. "

"As you all know, during the Battle of Kharkov two months ago, Manstein was able to turn defeat into victory when his troops were at a disadvantage. It was entirely because the field airfield that our army had just recovered could not be put into use to support ground forces. The aircraft had to take off from a long distance, so the German army took the initiative in the battlefield, which caused us to lose the victory that was originally at hand." Before describing the brilliant record of the Air Force, Vasilievsky briefly reviewed it. In the early stage of the Kharkov campaign, the reason why our army was unable to receive air support, then returned to the subject and began to introduce us to the air force's record.

"After the May Day parade, our air force fought fierce air battles with the Nazi German air force. While the enemy planes bombed and blocked our defense zones and transportation lines, our air force was not idle. They attacked the German forces. The headquarters, communications hubs, and warehouses of Germany launched large-scale air strikes, and focused on destroying the main railway and highway lines of the German army, causing problems in their logistical supplies.

Comrade Novikov, the commander of the Air Force, worked with his subordinates to formulate an air combat attack plan based on the command of the High Command. The purpose of the campaign was to carry out raids on German airfields and annihilate the main German air forces deployed in Bryansk, Orel, and Kharkov, so that our army could firmly control the air superiority of the battlefield. According to the plan. Our army will assemble the first, second, third, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth air force groups to carry out raids on 26 German airfields on the front line. "

The battle of Kursk in my memory was basically a tank battle between the Soviet Union and Germany. No one ever mentioned the performance of the air forces of both sides in this battle, what Vasilevsky said today. It immediately aroused my interest. I was holding a tea cup, looking at Vasilevsky intently, and quietly listening to him talk about the air force's achievements.

"...Our army's air strikes were carried out from May 6 to 8. At 5:30 in the morning on the 6th, our army dispatched 112 bombers, 156 attack planes and 166 fighter planes, which were 1,200 kilometers long. At the same time, they carried out raids on 17 German airports.

Because our target for the first round of strikes is the German field airfield. There are no underground oil depots or ammunition depots, and there are no hangars for aircraft. The piles of ammunition and fuel are placed separately near the airport runway and apron to facilitate the refueling of the aircraft.

Our pilots found that the airport was full of planes and piles of ammunition and gasoline drums nearby, so they dived down from high altitude and dropped the bombs they carried. As bombs fell one after another between the ammunition and gasoline drums and exploded, the entire airport became a sea of ​​flames. The burning gasoline drum turned into a burning bomb, which was thrown around by the blast of air and slammed into the plane on the airport. To the end. All the planes were turned into wreckage, the annex buildings of the airport were also razed to the ground in the fire and explosion, and the corpses of German soldiers were all over the airport.

Some airports that were not hit by air strikes were alerted. Fighters were dispatched to intercept our fleet. The enemy and us were evenly matched. In the fierce air battle that followed, 21 aircraft were lost each, and as many as 194 aircraft were destroyed on the ground.

At 15 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, our army made persistent efforts and launched a second air strike, dispatched 372 aircraft and air strikes on 20 German airfields. This time, the Germans who suffered a loss were prepared for defense. In addition to the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns in the airport, there are still many fighters patrolling in the air.

My heroic pilot. Bravely broke through the defensive network composed of German fighter planes and ground air defense firepower, and carried out a surprise attack on the designated target. Destroyed 134 enemy aircraft parked on the airport. In the air battle, our army shot down 24 German fighters and lost 46 of its own.

In the early morning of the 7th, our army launched the third air strike, dispatched a total of 405 aircraft, and carried out raids on 22 German airfields that were still in use. After a fierce air battle, 29 enemy planes were shot down, 48 enemy planes were lost, and 93 enemy planes on the airport were destroyed.

Faced with the intensive raid tactics of our army, the German army was forced to move a large number of aircraft to the rear. The bombers left near the front line also carried out emergency evacuation and camouflage, and deployed more fighters to deal with our bomber group. .

On the 8th, our fourth air strike, a total of 181 aircraft were dispatched. Because the Germans were fully prepared, the bombing of the airport failed to achieve any results. In the air battle, while losing 8 of our army, we shot down 6 German fighters.

Seeing the continuation of the raid tactics, there will not be much success. After receiving a report from General Novikov, Marshal Zhukov and I decisively ordered the suspension of air strikes on the German airport.

In this battle launched by the Air Force, our army dispatched 1,392 aircraft, destroying 372 aircraft on German airfields and injuring 51 aircraft. In the air battle, our army shot down 67 German planes and damaged 10 planes. The German army lost a total of 501 aircraft, while our army has successively lost 122 aircraft. "

Shumilov waited for Vasilevsky to finish, and while drinking water from his cup, he opened his mouth and said: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I know General Novikov, still during the Defence of Stalingrad. Paulus After being surrounded by our army, as long as the weather improves, he will send aviation troops to cover the rapid attack on the ground, destroy the ground troops and technical equipment of the German army, and conduct aerial reconnaissance, assault enemy airfields, and serve as Cuikov’s 62nd. The troops of the group army transported supplies. It can be said that it is precisely because of their bravery that we can achieve the final victory in the encirclement and annihilation of Paulus."

The heroic performance of the Air Force commanders and fighters made me feel like a bright spot. But what I am concerned about is not the air dominance of the battlefield, but the equipment of the troops. With the existing equipment, it is very difficult to block the German attack. So I waited for the two of them to finish talking, and tentatively asked Vasilevsky: "Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union, I want to ask you one thing. I don't know if I should ask or not?"

Vasilevsky smiled and waved his hand, and said amiably: "Lida, don't hesitate to tell me anything. You and I are both so familiar with each other. Do you still use such a polite way of speaking!"

I put the teacup on the table, stood up, straightened my fingers against the seams of my trousers, and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, I would like to ask when the superior can change our army?"

After saying this, I saw Vasilevsky slightly raising his sharp eyebrows, looked at me puzzledly, and then turned to Shumilov.

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," Shumilov saw Vasilevsky looking at him, and quickly got up from his chair, just like me, calling each other by his position: "I think it may not only be Lida's army. All the units of the Voronezh Front Army have not been refitted. For example, my group army was supposed to complete the refitting of all guards on May 10th, but today is the 20th, and there is no shadow of new equipment. See."

Vasilevsky reduced the smile on his face, got up from his seat, and walked back and forth in the office with his hands on his back. After a while, he stopped, looked at us and asked sternly: "Do you know the monthly output of the new rifles and tanks that will be replaced by the troops?"

Upon hearing this question from Vasilievsky, Shumilov and I looked at each other, and both saw the confusion and confusion in each other's eyes. After we shook our heads and said that we did not know, Shumilov murmured: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, these production data are absolutely confidential and cannot be understood at our level."

Vasilevsky smiled bitterly, and then said: "Well, two commanders of the Army Group, I will not keep this matter secret from you. In the first 20 days of May, the production of Kalashnikov rifles , Is 70,000; and the output of the new tank is 170~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Having said that, he couldn't help shaking his head, and said to himself, "Although the production of Kalashnico The number of rifles seems to be quite large, but according to the judgment of the Supreme High Command, Kursk will be attacked by German troops from Orel Oblast, so the new equipment produced should be supplemented to Rokosovsky’s troops first. Do you know how many troops the Central Front has? "

"How much?" Shumilov asked casually.

"Seven hundred thousand," Vasilevsky opened the palm of his left hand and extended **** of his right hand, exaggeratingly said: "There are seven hundred thousand people. According to the plan of the high command, the new style Only after they are equipped with their equipment can they be turned to troops located in other secondary areas. At the current speed, you will have to wait until November at the earliest before you can start the formal change."

Vasilevsky’s words left me speechless, "November, November," my temples throbbed, and my heart felt like a panic: "If you really want to wait until then to change clothes, just It doesn't make any sense anymore. If I know that my defense zone will be attacked by the Germans at the beginning of July. Isn't it possible that I still can't change the established history. In order to block the onslaught of the Germans, I can only fill it with countless lives? To be continued.)

ps: I would like to thank my book friends for the six monthly tickets and 50000 coins for the most powerful army children's shoes!