Burning Moscow

The telegram from the Air Force Command arrived late after the fleet was far away. It stated briefly: "The telegram has been received. In order to prevent accidental attacks on friendly forces, the fleet has been ordered to return."

Looking at this brief telegram, I couldn't help but secretly rejoice that if it weren't for Cui Kefu's handling of it properly, under the bombardment of the Air Force, our army would have suffered a lot of casualties.

I slipped the telegram into my pocket, turned and asked the communications staff standing aside: "Can I get in touch with the Front Command?"

The communications staff shook his head and replied: "Although they have been working with the front army headquarters, they have never established contact."

"Continue contact," I now realize that the loss of contact with the front army headquarters has made things serious, because our speed of advancing has far surpassed the original idea. According to the plan, the Air Force will bomb the designated targets every day. If contact is not established as soon as possible, there will be more and more accidental bombing attempts like today. "In any case, get in touch with the front army command as soon as possible."

As soon as I ordered the communications staff, Cui Koff and Pronin walked in from outside. Seeing me standing next to the radio, he raised his voice and asked, "Lida, have you contacted Marshal Zhukov?"

"The telegraph operator is still calling, but we haven't gotten in touch yet." I explained to Cui Koff: "It may be that the signal in this area is not good. The telegram we sent cannot be received from Lublin."

"Since we can't get in touch, we won't get in touch for the time being." Faced with the embarrassing situation today, Cui Koff wanted to open up, "Our first task is to seize the city. Now the armored forces under the command of General Weinrub have already From the south of the city to the west, we are ready to launch an attack from the western suburbs."

"What, are you going to launch an offensive from the western suburbs?" I heard Cuikov say that, and I couldn't help but wondered: "What about General Katukov's troops? You know that blocking the western passage is the 1st Guards Tank Army. force."

"Our 8th Guards Army is fully capable of capturing such a city from the Germans." Cui Koff said confidently: "Moreover, judging from the offensive situation in all directions, the resistance of the defenders in the city is not firm. They There is no intention to stick to this city. We can seize this place independently, with great confidence."

It was already two o'clock in the afternoon to re-establish contact with Zhukov.

We reported to him by telegram the results of the troops' achievements in the past two days and the battle that is currently attacking Rhodes. Finally, we asked him to send the air force to help.

After learning about our specific situation, Zhukov readily agreed to the request to send the air force to help the war, and at the same time made a request to us that the troops should not stop, and should continue to advance westward in an effort to reach the Oder River as soon as possible.

Regarding Zhukov’s order, after discussing with Cuikov, I decided to use the 8th Guards Army as the main force in the attack on Rhodes, but I will transfer the tanks 11th and 9th Army that have rushed to the vicinity to help. And Katukov’s troops were responsible for Zhukov’s task of continuing to advance westward to capture more areas occupied by the Germans.

I just finished the phone call with Katukov in the west of the city and gave him an order to continue marching west. The communications staff handed me a telegram, saying it was forwarded by the front army headquarters.

I opened the telegram, looked at the signature below, and found that it was actually Konev. Why did Konev telegraph to me? You know I am not his deputy now, and I am not qualified to help him make suggestions. I read the contents of the telegram with doubts, and I couldn't help but fall into contemplation.

Konev said that his troops had already completed the encirclement of the German troops in Silesia, but because it was an industrial area with a large number of factories, the German troops had established a sound defense system in the sturdy workshops. The troops will have to pay huge casualties and also a lot of time wasted. He heard from several of his subordinates that I had introduced the theory of street fighting to the students at the Frunze Military Academy, so he specifically asked me for help, seeking a solution to the fighting as soon as possible.

I quickly asked Cui Kefu to get a map of Silesia and put it on the table to study countermeasures. As far as I know, the Silesian Industrial Zone is now an important military industrial base for the German army. If our army can seize this place, the German army’s weapons and equipment will soon face a shortage.

If Konev's forces attack this area, then this important industrial area will become a ruin. It is unwise to do important things. Because even if our army occupied this place, not only could we not use the factories here to provide military supplies for our troops, we would also spend great efforts to rebuild this place in the future.

After careful consideration, I felt that instead of encircling and annihilating the enemies in this area, it would be more appropriate to squeeze them away from here. So I drafted a long telegram and wrote all my thoughts on it, and finally suggested to Konev: “Instead of fighting the Germans here, it’s better to leave them a channel deliberately and take them from here. An area was squeezed away, so that our army obtained a supply base that can produce weapons and ammunition."

After I finished writing, I asked the telegram to hand it over to the communications staff and instructed him: "Comrade staff, you are in a hurry. Send this telegram immediately."

When I was writing the telegram, Cuikov was talking to General Berjavsky, the chief of the operations department he sent to the west, and asked him about the fighting situation in the western suburbs.

The Director of Operations reported to Trikov: "General Weinrub's tank group has moved out to the western suburbs of Lodz; the 28th Army has occupied Ozorkow, Alexander Ruf, and Rodogoshi; I The reconnaissance unit of the group army has advanced to the Lodz-Konstantinów highway, and the enemy is retreating hurriedly to the southwest. While capturing a large number of enemy troops, our army has seized a large number of spoils..."

When he said this, there was no sound in the earpiece. Cui Kefu shouted several times into the microphone, and when he heard a voice reappearing, he said dissatisfiedly: "Comrade Chief of Operations, why did your report stop halfway through?"

"Comrade Commander," the anxious voice of the Chief of Operations came from the earpiece: "General Wein Rube was injured and has just been sent back to the headquarters."

"What, Wein Rube was injured?" Cui Kefu asked anxiously: "Which part was injured, is it serious?"

"General Weinrub's tank was blown up and his chest was pierced by shrapnel. The military doctors are dealing with him urgently~www.wuxiaspot.com~ The Chief of Operations paused for a moment, and then said: "I think he should be sent as soon as possible. Go to the military hospital behind for rescue. "

Hearing that Weinrub's life is dying, Cui Kefu categorically ordered: "Comrade Chief of Operations, I order an ambulance to be arranged immediately to send General Weinrub to the rear hospital, accompanied by the best-skilled military doctor, understand?"

"Understood!" the Chief of Operations replied loudly.

When I saw Cui Kefu put down the phone, I had an expression of grief and indignation. I just wanted to comfort him. Suddenly I felt that someone touched his arm lightly and turned my head to see that it was the communications staff. He delivered a telegram. Give it to me and say quietly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, this is a telegram from the Ukrainian First Front Army Headquarters."

I heard that it was Konev's call back, so I didn't care about comforting Cuikov. Instead, I opened the telegram and quickly browsed the contents. Konev’s reply was simple: "I will open up a side for Germans in Silesia's industrial zone."

After reading Konev’s reply, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the German troops were really squeezed away from the Silesian industrial zone, not only would the casualties of the troops be reduced, but also a relatively complete industrial zone would be obtained. It won't be long before the weapons and ammunition needed by the troops will not be transported from the country all the way.