Steel Soviet Union

From the initial disbelief to the gradual adaptation, until now I am extremely emotional.

Chuikov, who experienced a roller coaster-like psychological change in just a few minutes, didn't know how to accurately describe his state of mind at this moment, but he only became extremely interested in one thing.

"Which unit was the one that captured the headquarters of the Sixth Army? Do you know?"

When Chuikov asked this question, he even thought about whether it was the troops of his 62nd Army who accomplished this magnificent feat? If that were the case, that would be great!

How great an achievement would it be to capture Paulus who was promoted to marshal alive? How great an honor should befall you and the 62nd Army? Just imagine the commander who led his troops and personally kidnapped Paulus. Even two upgrades might not be an exaggeration.

Unfortunately, the chief of staff's immediate reply was not what Chuikov expected.

"It was Comrade Vatutin's Southwestern Front troops that accomplished the feat by capturing Paulus alive and taking away the headquarters of the enemy's Sixth Army."

After hearing this, Chuikov still stood in front of the window and stared at the scene outside the glass, but the expression on his face with his eyebrows twitching clearly showed a little bit of loss that was difficult to detect, but the chief of staff's words did not It stopped and continues.

"However, Comrade Commander, the person who led the commandos to capture Paulus should be very familiar to you. You have often praised him before and he was once your most capable general.

The hints were enough but still failed to completely wake up Chuikov, who looked stunned. Comrade Commander, whose reaction time was too short, couldn't even remember which of his subordinates was such an awesome person who went to Vatutin's. The Southwest Front Army became the "Two and Five Boys".

"Have I often praised him before? Or is he a capable general under my command? Are you sure you are not mistaken? When did our 62nd Army have personnel transfers with Vatutin's Southwest Front? Why don't I remember?"

Chuikov, who was full of questions, felt that this was too unbelievable. His chief of staff must have made a mistake! Otherwise, why would I not have even the slightest impression left in my mind like a blank piece of paper?

However, the truth is that sometimes people like to make all kinds of unpredictable jokes.

"It's Malashenko, Colonel Malashenko, commander of the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade."

"Oh, I almost forgot! When he was in our 62nd Group Army, it was not a brigade-level organization. At that time, the unit he led was still the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment. I didn't expect how long it had just passed. , this little guy actually returned to Stalingrad with an elite tank brigade and brought us the final victory! This is simply unbelievable, Comrade Commander, what do you think?"

"Malashenko? It could actually be him"

The chief of staff made his words clear, and Chuikov, who was suddenly enlightened, recalled many things at once.

The thrilling rescue battle at the No. 1 Railway Station, Mamayev Hill, the tractor factory, and the headquarters of his own group army.

As the chief of staff said, when Malashenko was assigned to the 62nd Army, he was indeed the most capable general under his command.

Whenever the fighting is the fiercest somewhere and the situation is about to be out of control, the first thing I think of is to send Malashenko and his First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment there. It seemed that as soon as this fire brigade arrived, the situation would be reversed and the German would be pushed to the ground and given a blast.

Chuikov was very clear about Malashenko's transfer from the 62nd Army and the city to go to a new position.

Just like Chuikov personally said to Malashenko when Malashenko was about to leave.

Chuikov still believes that Malashenko and his 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment fulfilled their mission perfectly. This heroic unit fought the most brutally in Stalingrad and suffered heavy casualties.

The total number of personnel replenishments of various sizes must have been at least fourteen or five times, and the number of tank soldiers who died in battle alone must have been at least a thousand.

Not to mention the supplement of technical equipment, all kinds of miscellaneous tanks that can be used are almost all given to Malashenko for supplement.

According to Chuikov's statement when he presided over the group army's operational meeting, he rebutted on the spot when someone raised the issue of uneven distribution. There is a reason why Chuikov paid attention to Malashenko like a partial eye.

"If I distribute these uneven tanks to ordinary troops, then they can only exert 60% of their combat strength. But if I hand these tanks into the hands of Malashenko, he can exert these tanks to an average level. Double the number of troops."

"If there is any tank unit commander who thinks he is more capable than Malashenko, he should stand up now. The stage in Stalingrad is ready, and he can prove it to me with actual actions immediately."

"No? Okay, let's continue the meeting. Where did we just talk?"

So when Malashenko's 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment was almost wiped out, Chuikov, who happened to receive a telegram from Zhukov, actually supported Malashenko's transfer from the Stalingrad front line and went to the rear to reorganize the troops. , and then gathered a powerful tank force.

Such a frontline tank commander who can lead troops in war will shine wherever he goes. Even if he is considering preserving talents for the motherland and the Red Army, Chuikov believes that he must support this decision.

If Malashenko really allowed Malashenko to take the last few broken tanks to fight the Germans to the death, it would be a huge and regrettable loss. Chuikov never planned to do this.

But Chuikov never expected that Malashenko, who had lost news after leaving Stalingrad, would actually take the reorganized 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade and go to fight with the Southwest Front Army under Vatutin. .

Even though Chuikov could think that Malashenko's dispatch must be due to the decision of his superiors, a deep feeling of regret still rose in his heart and lingered.

"You said, how great would it be if Malashenko could still stay in our 62nd Army? Thinking about the name of our 62nd Army appearing on the radio and in newspapers, I feel very sad. So excited! It’s a pity that it’s too late now, it’s too late!”

Chuikov, who has a grumpy personality and a dynamite temper, rarely sighs. Even the chief of staff who lives with him day and night has never seen such a scene.

"There is no need to get too entangled, Comrade Commander. After all, this honor belongs to the collective, to all the heroic Red Army troops fighting in the direction of Stalingrad! We are all defenders of the motherland, although Comrade Malashenko His contribution is indeed very great, and this must be acknowledged.”