Red Moscow

"I don't deny that Colonel Sokov has made many achievements." Vasilevsky knew that Sokov had some abilities, but the newly formed combat group will determine the fate of Stalingrad in the days to come. , if it is handed over to a person with insufficient qualifications to command, the consequences will be very serious, so he said stubbornly: "But he is too young, and has never had experience in commanding a large corps. I think it is irresponsible for the city to give him command."

"Comrade Stalin," seeing Vasilevsky's resolute opposition to Sokov as commander, Zhukov quickly helped Sokov to say good things: "Since the Battle of Stalingrad, the troops under the command of Misha have been Numerous times smashed the enemy's attack and thwarted their plot to seize the Mamayev Post. The enemy adjusted his tactics when he saw that he could not capture this strategic point, and only sent the troops of the slave country to contain the defensive area of ​​the 41st Guards Division attack, while the main force goes north to attack the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory."

Seeing that the opinions of the two diverged on the candidates for the combat group, Stalin did not immediately express his opinion. He stood up, holding a pipe in one hand, and pacing slowly in the office with his back behind his back, thinking about what he should do. decision. Zhukov and others were afraid of interrupting Stalin's train of thought, so they didn't dare to speak, but quietly watched him pacing back and forth in the office.

After an unknown amount of time, when they saw Stalin stop, they guessed that he had already made a decision, and looked at him intently, wondering whose opinion he would support in the end.

"Comrade Vasilevsky," Stalin pointed at Vasilevsky with his cigarette butt, and asked, "If we want to transfer three full infantry divisions into the city, how long will it take? "

Vasilevsky calculated silently in his heart, and then replied: "Comrade Stalin, due to the blockade of the Volga River by the German artillery and air force, the transportation capacity of our fleet has been affected. If the infantry divisions and their weapons are brought into the city, I think it will take at least ten days."

"Ten days is too long." Stalin shook his head and said, "When all the troops enter the city, the Germans must have discovered our reinforcements long ago."

"But it's also the fastest speed." Vasilevsky said with a mournful face: "And this can only be done under the condition of reducing the transportation of supplies in the city."

"I have an idea, we don't need to rush to determine the commander of the combat group for the time being." After sitting down at the table, Stalin said to the two: "However, as the candidate recommended by Chuikov, I plan to test Misha and see him. Whether it is capable of commanding this force."

"Test?!" Hearing this, Zhukov asked in confusion, "How to test?"

"Didn't Comrade Chief of the General Staff say that it would take ten days to send three full-staffed divisions into the city?" Stalin put his pipe in his mouth, lit it, took a puff, and said unhurriedly, "If Xiao Misha If there is a way to let all these troops enter the city within three days, it shows that he has the ability to serve as the commander of the combat group."

three days? ! Hearing the date set by Stalin, Zhukov smiled wryly and shook his head. He felt that even he himself would not be able to cross the river with tens of thousands of troops within three days. It seems that even if a battle group is really established, the position of commander has nothing to do with Sokov.

Seeing that no one objected to his opinion, Stalin waved his hand and said decisively: "Since you have no disagreement, then this matter is settled. Comrade Antonov, you call Yeremenko back immediately and call us inform him of the decision."

After Antonov stepped aside, Stalin remembered an important matter, so he got up and walked to the desk, and pressed the bell on the desk with his hand. A moment later, the door was opened, and the bald Poskrebyshev appeared at the door, waiting closely for Stalin's order.

Stalin walked up to Poskrebyshev and told him: "You immediately call the editor-in-chief of the Red Star and ask them to send people to Stalingrad immediately to focus on interviewing and reporting on the 41st Guards Division. Through the newspaper , tell the military and civilians across the country the results they have achieved, and strengthen everyone's confidence in defeating the enemy."

Zhukov was reminded by Stalin's words, and he hurriedly said: "Comrade Stalin, can I add a few more words?" After obtaining Stalin's permission, he continued, "In order to boost the morale of the soldiers and civilians in Stalingrad, I I feel that an example should be set for them, and Colonel Sokov obviously agrees with this standard. We should not only report the results he achieved in Stalingrad, but also the feats he established before. The Germans are not invincible."

"Comrade Zhukov, what you said makes sense." Stalin agreed with Zhukov's proposal, and he added to Poskrebyshev: "Tell the editor-in-chief not only to report on Colonel Sokov's current battle results, but also to Even the meritorious deeds established in the past have to be introduced.”

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Poskrebyshev replied respectfully, "I will convey your thoughts to the editor-in-chief of the Red Star newspaper."

Yeremenko received the call back from Antonov, and after seeing the content clearly, he couldn't help but froze. He handed the telegram to Khrushchev, and asked inexplicably: "Comrade Khrushchev, let's see what this telegram means. Let Colonel Sokov, within three days, let the three full-staffed divisions be all Entering the city, what is going on here?"

Khrushchev accepted the telegram with a puzzled face, carefully browsed the content, and after reading it, he shook his head and said, "Comrade Commander, this is simply an impossible task. Don't say three days, count it as six." God, with our current transportation capacity, I am afraid it will be difficult to complete such a task."

"Comrade Khrushchev," Yeremenko saw that Khrushchev's thoughts coincided with his own, so he asked tentatively: "Look, should we send another telegram to the headquarters, telling us what is actually going on here?" Let them know, lest they make such unrealistic plans."

"It's useless, Comrade Commander." Khrushchev waved his hand and said, "There must be a reason for the superior to give us such a purpose. Even if we object, it is useless. In my opinion, we should put Forward this telegram to Chuikov, and let him have a headache."

"Good idea." Yeremenko replied with a smile: "He was the one who initiated this incident. Since the superiors entrusted us with the problem, let's let him figure out a solution. According to intelligence, he came from Moscow. Those three full-staffed teachers still have two days to get here, and he still has two days to think about how to solve this problem."