Steel Soviet Union

When Malashenko's 20th Tank Division of the Soviet Army and the entire 9th Mechanized Army led by Major General Rokossovsky retreated to the Soviet-Polish border fortress area for rest and recuperation, it was safer but the same in the far rear. The atmosphere in Moscow is tense.

Comrade Joseph Stalin, the supreme leader of the entire Soviet Union, was listening to radio broadcasts from Germany in his office in the Kremlin.

"Citizens of the Reich, today is undoubtedly a good day for our entire Third Reich to celebrate."

"As I speak, our heroic German frontline soldiers have seized large tracts of living territory for our people from the evil Bolsheviks."

"The entire Western Front of the Soviet Union has suffered a devastating blow and been completely annihilated under the offensive of Army Group Center led by our outstanding Marshal Fedor von Bock! The head of state accepted the interview from our reporter Liliana earlier today In a special interview, the Führer himself said that the defeat of the Soviet Army’s so-called most powerful Western Front Army Group was both within his expectations and at the same time reasonable.”

"At the end of the interview, our great head of state also emphasized one point: "The entire Soviet Union now ruled by the evil Bolsheviks is like a shabby house. We only need to kick the door and the whole shabby house will collapse. Come down. "I am your host and old friend Reinhardt. Citizens of the empire, let us work together for victory."

Crackling——

"That's enough! No more translation!"

Accompanied by a harsh noise of scattered office supplies and pen holders and water glasses falling to the ground, the angry roar from the mouth of Stalin, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, was like the most terrifying sound in the world, and the German broadcast content on the side was still being translated. The secretary who read it to Stalin was instantly frightened.

Throughout the two Soviet military and political administrations after Barbarossa's invasion, any act of privately listening to hostile German radio stations would be considered a traitor to the great motherland and subject to arrest by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

But for Comrade Stalin, who was the supreme leader of the entire Soviet Union and the actual dictator, he had absolute power in his hands, but he could ignore any regulations and listen to radio stations from Germany as he pleased.

After all, at this worst moment when the Soviet troops on the front line are defeated one after another and the command system is almost paralyzed, Stalin, who has difficulty keeping track of the latest developments of the Soviet front line troops, can only rely on this method of listening to enemy radio stations to update the information in his hands. Old intelligence information.

The one-sided news reported on German radio still could not make Stalin, who was suspicious by nature, completely believe what it said.

Sitting at his desk, Stalin gradually calmed down the short-lived anger in his heart and thought about countermeasures. Stalin, who decided to further confirm the news mentioned in the German radio broadcast, immediately grabbed the phone on his desk.

"Take the General Staff Headquarters!"

Just a few seconds later, Stalin, who was waiting with the microphone in hand, soon heard the voice that was extremely familiar to him.

"Chief of the General Staff Zhukov reports to you. I wish you good health, Comrade Stalin."

At this moment, the Soviet general holding a telephone in the Soviet General Staff Headquarters and having a direct conversation with Stalin was none other than General Zhukov, the "Red Army God of War" who currently serves as the Chief of the Red Army General Staff.

Normally, Stalin, who had a close personal relationship with Zhukov, whom he admired, would basically exchange greetings and greetings with Zhukov after the call was connected.

But at this moment, which made him feel very annoyed, Stalin, who was doubtful and extremely worried about the news reported on German radio, directly chose to get straight to the point.

"Comrade Zhukov, I need you to give me accurate news! I heard from the German radio broadcast that our Western Front has been surrounded and annihilated by the German Army Group Center, and the entire army has been annihilated! I know that the German radio always likes It’s bragging, but as the chief of general staff, you must give me an accurate answer that can withstand scrutiny and confirmation immediately!”

Regarding Stalin's angry questions on the other end of the phone, Zhukov, who was never timid and pragmatic in front of Stalin, gave a calm reply after thinking for a moment.

"Comrade Stalin, the latest situation I have confirmed from Commander Pavlov of the Western Front is that they have lost Minsk and were driven out of the city by the German army. Comrade Pavlov has assured me that he is deploying troops as soon as possible. Counterattack to retake Minsk, this is the latest news I have received from the Western Front, but Comrade Pavlov has not yet conducted a daily summary of the battle situation with me today. "

After hearing the detailed report from Zhukov, Stalin, who knew that Zhukov was always straightforward and unadulterated in his dealings with others, immediately spoke into the microphone again without thinking.

"You immediately call Pavlov and Zhukov. I want to know what is happening to the Western Front that I handed over to him! I want to confirm whether what the Germans said on the radio is true! In the shortest possible time Give me a complete and confirmed answer, that’s it!”

After Stalin's angry closing words, Zhukov hung up the phone, and Zhukov, who did not dare to neglect the Supreme Leader's orders, immediately sent a telegram to the Soviet Western Front Headquarters on the front line.

"Following the orders of Supreme Leader Comrade Stalin, I am calling to ask the Germans whether the news mentioned on the German radio that most of our Western Front was surrounded and annihilated by the German Army Group Center is true. I hope Comrade Pavlov, commander of the Western Front, will reply as soon as possible. "

"Chief of General Staff of the Red Army: Zhukov."

Zhukov, who was pacing back and forth in the telegraph room like an ant on a hot pot, was not made to wait for too long. Pavlov, who did not dare to hesitate at all after clearly seeing the name Stalin in the telegram, quickly reported to Zhukov. Call back.

"To Comrade Zhukov, Chief of the General Staff."

"Our Western Front has suffered successive setbacks and suffered heavy losses under the German air-ground blitz offensive. Most of the main forces have been divided, surrounded and defeated after being attacked by powerful enemies."

"Many main forces have lost contact with the front army headquarters. I am stepping up my efforts to send cavalry and communications personnel to try to contact them, but so far I have not received any valuable progress."

"Commander of the Western Front: Pavlov."

Holding the ink-smelling telegram in his hand, he was shocked and unbelievable. A very bad answer came to his mind. Zhukov then sent Pavlov another brief telegram. .