Red Moscow

"Misha, you really dare to say anything." Lunev's facial muscles twitched violently a few times, and said with a wry smile: "If I hadn't been your partner before and knew you well, I would definitely Thought you were a panicked person."

"Don't label me like that." Sokov said with a smile, "I'm just telling the truth."

"To tell you the truth, I came here today with a mission."

"He came with a mission?" Lunev's words surprised Sokov, and he asked in surprise, "What mission?"

"Although Antonov has already issued an order to transfer you to a more important position in the General Staff." Lunev explained: "But there are always people who will raise objections, thinking that you are too young to be responsible. The ability of that position. It just so happened that the First Ukrainian Front Army encountered a little trouble on the battlefield, so Antonov asked me to come and see you and listen to your views on the situation."

Lunev paused, and added: "This is also a test for you to see if you are qualified for the work of the General Staff."

"It turns out that this is a test for me." Sokov secretly groaned: "If the plan I just proposed is proved to be correct after a period of time, then those who raised objections in the General Staff will have nothing to do with it." It can be said that at that time, I am afraid that I will not be able to think about it.”

While worrying about gains and losses, I heard Lunev continue to say: "Misha, since you have reached an agreement with Marshal Zhukov and General Rokossovsky, there is still room for discussion on whether to transfer to the General Staff. .But how to resolve the Zhitomir crisis, I hope you can tell me your true thoughts."

"Lunev, I'm speaking from my own heart." Sokov pointed to Fastev on the map and said to Lunev: "You just told me that the German 25th Armored Division is fighting with The 7th Guards Tank Corps was engaged in a fierce battle here. The intention of the Germans is obvious. As long as they occupy Fastev, they can cut off the Kiev-Zhytomyr highway at any time.”

"I believe General Rybalko, he must be able to defend Fastiv." Lunev looked at Sokov and said, "As long as the Germans are not allowed to occupy this city, they will not be able to attack the people in Zhitomir. The 38th Army formed an encirclement."

Hearing Lunev's naive statement, Sokov couldn't help crying and laughing: "My Comrade Military Commissar, do you think the Germans are fools?"

As soon as Lunev heard that Sokov also called himself a military commissar, he guessed that there must be something wrong with what he said just now, and quickly asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

"Yes, you're wrong, and it's very wrong." Sokov tapped his finger on the map and said, "The most common tactic used by the Germans is to attack from the front and at the same time, detour from the two wings, so as to achieve The purpose of encircling the defenders. Our army suffered many similar losses in the early days of the war, resulting in tens of thousands of troops being encircled and even annihilated."

Originally Sokov also talked about the Battle of Kiev in 1941, but then he thought about it. In this battle of the Soviet Army, the senior commanders of the Southwest Front Army were almost killed, and more than 600,000 commanders and fighters were captured. It was a taboo in the Soviet Army that one should not try to be quick-mouthed for a while, but when one violated the taboo, he swallowed back the words that came to his lips.

"I don't think so." Lunev was still skeptical about Sokov's statement, and still stubbornly said: "Our army's Korosten-Zhytomir-Belkichev There are three entire armies on this line of defense, including a tank army, and it may not be easy for the Germans to break through our line of defense."

"Yes, on the surface, we have three armies including the tank army, while the Germans only have Balck's 48th Panzer Army, which is superior in strength." Sokov knew Lunev's military strength. Insufficient, he patiently explained to him: "But the factor that determines the victory of a battle is not only the number of people, but also the reasonable use of equipment and tactics.

You see, although there are three armies on this temporary defense line, the distance between them is too far. When any army is attacked by the Germans, the other two troops cannot attack him in time. Aid was provided, thus giving the Germans a chance to take them down one by one. "

When Lunev leaned his head closer to the map and carefully checked the deployment of troops on both sides of the Soviet Union and Germany, he secretly pondered what Sokov said.

Seeing that the opponent was watching intently, Sokov didn't bother him. Instead, he was thinking about what measures he would take if he were in Moskalenko's position to deal with Balk's attack.

After looking at the map for a while, Lunev raised his head and said to Sokov: "Misha, I think the 38th Army stationed in Zhitomir can completely rely on the existing fortifications to carry out a tenacious defense and insist on until reinforcements arrive."

"Reinforcements?!" Sokov heard what Lunev said, and asked with a sneer: "My comrade, the military commissar, the Ukrainian First Front Army has just liberated Kiev. Exhausted, it would be nice to be able to hold Kiev at this moment, where there is extra strength, go to reinforce the besieged Zhytomyr."

"When Balck used the Banner Guard Division and the 1st Armored Division to attack Zhitomyr, his 7th Armored Division and the 68th Infantry Division were moving to the two wings." Sokov felt that since he knew what to do next However, it is still necessary to remind the generals of the General Staff to find ways to reduce the casualties of the troops: "Once they are allowed to detour to the east of Zhitomir, the Kiev-Zhytomir road will be completely cut off. The 38th Army will fall into the encirclement of the German army, and may even be completely wiped out. Therefore, before the formation of the German encirclement, we must allow the troops to withdraw to Kiev in time and arrange a complete defense to resist the German counterattack against Kiev."

"Misha, you have not been in the army for a day or two." After Sukov finished speaking, it was Lunev's turn to smile bitterly: "When have you ever seen a city that our army would voluntarily give up its occupation? If anyone He has done it, waiting for his fate, which is to be sent to a military court and accept the due trial."

Lunev's words reminded Sokov that Zhytomir is an important city on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The Soviet army finally occupied it. How could they give up so easily? I am afraid that Vatutin's order to General Moskalenko at this time is to defend the city at all costs and absolutely not to hand over the city to the Germans.

After thinking about this, Sokov sighed and said to Lunev: "Lunev, even if the 38th Army is not withdrawn, Zhytomir will not be able to hold out for a few days. This is my true thought, you just Report it truthfully to the higher authorities."

Lunev put away the map on the quilt, and said to Sokov with a solemn expression: "Misha, I believe your analysis. The 38th Army of General Moskalenko is in a very dangerous situation. Only by retreating can the lives of more commanders and fighters be saved, and I will truthfully tell Antonov and Stemenko what you think."