Red Moscow

Although Sokov had long known that Patton would die in the car accident, when he heard the news from Zhukov, he couldn't help being surprised and asked instinctively: "Comrade Marshal, is his injury okay?"

"It's hard to say." Zhukov shook his head and said, "But according to our intelligence, he is seriously injured. Whether he can survive depends on his life."

Sokov knew very well that Barton, a loudmouth who spoke without restraint, had offended many important people. Who knew whether this car accident was an accident or man-made. But no matter what, this once all-powerful general in World War II will soon withdraw from the stage of history.

After staying for a while, Sokov said goodbye and left.

After going out, he was stopped by Zhukov's adjutant and chatted for a few words. When he was about to leave, the door he had closed opened and Malenkov walked out.

Seeing Sokov still in the office outside, Malenkov smiled and said to Sokov: "General Sokov, do you have time now?"

"Yes, Comrade Malenkov." Sokov had nothing to do. Hearing what Malenkov said, he understood that the other party might want to have a private chat with him. This was a good opportunity to bring the two of them closer, so he naturally would not let it go. Passed: "I am at your command."

Malenkov smiled and waved his hand: "General Sokov, I'm serious, I just want to have a casual chat with you. If you don't mind, come and sit in my office."

"OK."

Seeing Malenkov and Sokov leaving side by side, the adjutant hesitated for a moment, then opened the door behind him and went in to report to Zhukov.

"Comrade Marshal, Sokov left with Comrade Malenkov, probably going to his office."

After listening to the adjutant's report, Zhukov said disapprovingly: "In a few days, the three of us will return to Moscow together. It's not a big deal for them to get familiar with each other first. Comrade adjutant, please remember your responsibilities and you should not interfere." Don’t ask casually about matters.”

The adjutant did not dare to refute, and after agreeing, he obediently left the office.

Sokov followed Malenkov to his office. He unexpectedly discovered that it was on the same floor as Zhukov's office, only a few rooms apart.

After entering the office, Malenkov invited Sokov to sit down on the sofa, then walked to the samovar and poured him a cup of hot tea. He also asked specifically: "General Sokov, how many sugar cubes do you want?" "

Even though it had been several years since Sokov came to this era, he still didn't like drinking tea with sugar cubes in it, so he waved his hand and said, "Thank you, I don't add sugar."

Malenkov put the hot tea on the coffee table in front of Sokov, and then sat on the sofa next to him: "General Sokov..."

"Comrade Malenkov!" Sokov said quickly: "You should do like Marshal Zhukov and call me by my nickname Misha."

"Okay, Misha." Malenkov was not pretentious and immediately changed his name to Sokov: "What do you think of Marshal Zhukov?"

"He is an invincible and extremely handsome man."

Hearing Sokov's evaluation of Zhukov, Malenkov showed a meaningful smile on his face: "Misha, you have a very high opinion of him. But now there are people who are making a fuss about this matter and are preparing to let him Disgraced."

Sokov said to himself that even if the people above wanted to do something, they should wait a little longer. It was only half a year after the war ended, and Marshal Zhukov's reputation was at its peak. It would be too hasty to attack him at this moment.

Seeing that Sokov was silent, Malenkov continued: "During the Battle of Moscow, Marshal Zhukov was the commander of the Western Front. Do you know this?"

"I know, of course I know." Sokov nodded and replied.

"Marshal Rokossovsky was the commander of the 16th Army at the time. When the 5th Army on the left and the 30th Army on the right of his defense line were repelled by the Germans, his unit became a lone force that could be attacked by the Germans at any time. "The possibility of encirclement and annihilation." Malenkov said: "In this case, retreating the troops to the Istria Reservoir area and re-establishing new defenses can not only shorten the defense front, but also create more available reserves. , so as to better grasp the initiative on the battlefield. Unfortunately, Rokossovsky's request was ruthlessly rejected by Zhukov.

So Rokossovsky bypassed Zhukov and directly asked Marshal Shaposhnikov, the chief of the general staff in Moscow, for instructions, hoping that he would allow his troops to retreat. After receiving Rokossovsky's call, Marshal Shaposhnikov immediately reported the matter to Comrade Stalin. After repeated thinking, the Supreme Commander himself agreed to Rokossovsky's request to withdraw his troops. "

"Yes, I have heard about this." Sokov nodded quickly after hearing this and said: "But not long after the troops of the 16th Army began to retreat, Zhukov got the news and immediately reported it to Rokossov Marshal Ski sent a telegram, forcing him to cancel the order to withdraw the troops and return to the original combat area to garrison. "

"Yes, that is indeed the case." Malenkov said: "Do you think Marshal Zhukov did this, right?"

Sokov couldn't help but began to think deeply when he heard Malenkov's question. I first saw such a scene in the movie "The Defense of Moscow". At that time, I felt that Zhukov's approach was completely correct. The 16th Army should unswervingly stick to its original position and resist the German attack. But as I came to this era and saw Rokossovsky's combat area with my own eyes, I changed my mind and felt that Zhukov's orders to Rokossovsky were questionable.

According to later sources, there are different views on Zhukov's prevention of the retreat of the 16th Army. The most common view is that the 16th Group Army should hold its position, delay the German advance, and buy precious time for the rear reserves to assemble. But the real situation at the time was that if Rokossovsky's troops retreated to the Istria Reservoir area early and established new defenses, they would be able to rely on the local favorable terrain to block the German attack.

It was precisely because of Zhukov's insistence that the 16th Army commanded by Rokossovsky was in chaos. Some troops who had just withdrawn to the designated location hurriedly returned to their original defensive positions after receiving orders to stop retreating and return to the original combat area. Unexpectedly, the area had already been occupied by the German army. Their counterattack was not only unsuccessful, but also lost troops and generals, and had to retreat to the newly built fortifications again.

Some people defended Zhukov and said: Because Zhukov shoulders the heavy responsibility of defending Moscow and is under great psychological pressure, it is inevitable that he will make some mistakes in decision-making. But Zhukov is under great pressure, so isn’t Rokossovsky under great pressure? You must know that he used the severely under-strength 16th Group Army to tenaciously resist the German attack in the combat area that originally belonged to the three group armies. If it were not for his extraordinary command talent and clever use of various tactics, he could block the attack. Without the German attack, it is estimated that the defense line has collapsed long ago. If this happens, what will be lost will not only be small cities close to Moscow such as Klin and Sun Mountain City, but also the enemy who broke into Khimki Town will not be just a reconnaissance team, but may be a division-level combat unit. . Facing the German army at the division level, can the garrison in Moscow, mainly composed of militiamen, stop the Germans from rushing towards the Red Square?

"Comrade Malenkov," Sokov tried to force a smile on his face: "I'm afraid I can't answer your question. You know, when the 16th Army retreated to the Istria Reservoir area, I was still in the town of Khimki There’s a garrison squad leader here.”

Sokov's answer surprised Malenkov. He asked in surprise: "What, during the defense of Moscow, were you still a squad leader?"

"Yes," Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "To be precise, he is a corporal squad leader."

"Oh my God." Malenkov's face was full of shock: "During the Moscow Defense War, you were just a corporal squad leader, but in just four years, you have become a general. This promotion The speed is amazing.”

"I just got lucky."

"Just good luck can't get you promoted as fast as you." Malenkov waved his hand and continued: "Let's continue talking about Marshal Zhukov."

Sokov knew that Zhukov had committed a taboo just by canceling the retreat of the 16th Army. In any case, Rokossovsky only issued the retreat order to the troops after receiving the instructions from the Supreme Commander himself. If Zhukov directly canceled this order, wouldn't it be a slap in Stalin's face? The situation was critical at that time, and it was the time to appoint people, so the supreme commander himself could not care less. Now that the war is over, if someone makes a fuss about this matter, the thorn in Stalin's heart will hurt again.

"Please tell me, Comrade Malenkov." Sokov wanted to know how many tricks Zhukov still had in others' hands, so he motioned to Malenkov to continue.

"During the Battle of Stalingrad, Zhukov commanded three armies to continuously launch counterattacks against the Germans in the northwest direction of the city, but the effect was very limited." Malenkov continued: "Some people say that if these three armies were Instead of carrying out a futile counterattack to the north of the city, the group army is all positioned inside Stalingrad, and maybe our time to win will be greatly shortened. "

"Comrade Malenkov, I don't agree with this statement." Sokov waited for Malenkov to finish speaking, and immediately expressed his opinion: "If we concentrate all the troops in Stalingrad, because of the surrounding areas of the city, If there is no force to contain the enemy's power, then the enemy will be able to complete the encirclement of Stalingrad. At that time, the Battle of Stalingrad may become another Battle of Kiev. "

The Battle of Kiev was the largest battle of annihilation in human military history. The Soviet Army's most elite Southwest Front was almost completely wiped out by the Germans. The front's commander, chief of staff and military commissar were all killed. More than 600,000 Soviet commanders and fighters even became the German army's commanders. captive. This battle can be regarded as a great shame and humiliation for the Soviet army.

Hearing Sokov compare the Battle of Stalingrad to the Battle of Kiev, Malenkov said with some surprise: "Misha, if all the troops are concentrated in the city, will there really be another Battle of Kiev?"

"Of course it is, Comrade Malenkov." Sokov nodded first, and then explained to Malenkov: "Although the three armies commanded by Marshal Zhukov did not make much progress during the counterattack, it is precisely because Their presence restrained a considerable number of German troops, preventing them from concentrating all their forces to attack the city. Only in this way could the defenders in the city hold on. "

"Really?"

"That's right." Sokov continued: "Our army's uninterrupted counterattack in the northwest direction successfully contained the German offensive force. I was in Stalingrad at the time, so I felt deeply, watching the German army It was about to capture the entire city, but because of a crisis in the north of the city, Paulus had to transfer troops from the offensive troops to strengthen the defense in the north to prevent his flanks from being threatened.

I remember that at that time, a tank brigade of our army successfully broke through the German defense line and advanced towards the factory area. But unfortunately, because the infantry did not follow up in time, the tank brigade, which lost the infantry cover, became the target of German anti-tank fighters. When the tank brigade was completely wiped out, only the last two kilometers were left from the factory area. "

"That's such a pity." Malenkov couldn't help sighing after hearing what Sokov said: "Under the circumstances at that time, if a tank brigade broke through the German defenses and entered the factory area of ​​Stalingrad, they would have to fight with the defenders there. The military reunion will be such an exciting thing.”

"Yes." Sokov agreed with Malenkov's statement: "With the cooperation of tank troops, the defenders in the factory area may be able to launch counterattacks against the Germans in individual areas, thus gaining the battlefield initiative. "

After chatting for a few more words, Malenkov suddenly asked: "By the way, Misha, where were your troops stationed in Stalingrad at that time?"

"Mamayev Kurgan!"

"What, Mamayev Hill?" Hearing the ground mentioned by Sokov, Malenkov stood up suddenly and said with some emotion: "At that time, I read the battle report every day, and it said to hold on to Mamayev Hill. The infantry brigade repelled countless German attacks. The hills were covered with German corpses and damaged technical equipment, but they were never able to capture Mamayev Hill. I didn't expect that it was the one you commanded. The troops are holding the Mamayev Heights.”

"At the beginning, I commanded an infantry brigade." Sokov said with a smile: "But as the war progressed, I suffered a greater loss of troops. In order to defend Mamayev Heights, my superiors sent close soldiers Guards Division, and asked me to serve as the division commander. In this way, I changed from the infantry brigade commander to the Guards Division commander. "

"Misha, if I were your superior, I would definitely do the same thing." Malenkov said: "Mamaev Hill not only connects the factory area in the north of the city and the living area in the south of the city, but it also protects The security of the Volga River crossing. If the Germans occupy it, it will mean that the city's connection with the outside world is completely cut off. If our army wants to hold Stalingrad, it will be an impossible task. "