The decisive battle against the Third Reich

The loss of Sevastopol angered Stalin.

"I don't know what happened in the Crimean Peninsula!" In the conference room, Stalin glanced at the officers attending the meeting with stern eyes, and said coldly: "The situation was originally very favorable to us, wasn't it? Sevastopol It is a fortress that is difficult to conquer. The terrain of the Kerch Peninsula is also very suitable for defense. They are garrisoned by 120,000 people and 260,000 people respectively, while the enemy only has 160,000 people... Even our troops are still facing each other on the left and right. The enemy attacked from two sides, but they still captured Sevastopol easily!"

At this point, Stalin picked up his pipe, stuffed tobacco into it and said solemnly: "Who can tell me why this is?"

Oktyabryski, who escaped from Sevastopol, felt that he needed to explain this, so he stood up and replied: "Comrade Stalin, it is because the enemy unexpectedly attacked the power station and ... Sevastopol is short of troops and has no necessary reserves in the city, leaving it empty inside! "

Stalin did not speak, but silently lit his pipe, took a deep breath and exhaled. Suddenly, a piece of smoke enveloped Stalin like a cloud.

When the smoke gradually dissipated, Stalin asked: "That's all?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Oktyabryski replied: "It was a mistake in my command. Please hold me accountable!"

"No, Comrade Stalin!" At this time, Mehlis, who was sitting on Stalin's left side, stood up and said sternly: "I don't think these are the reasons for the failure of the Battle of Sevastopol. Of course, I It is believed that it was Comrade Oktyabryski's command error, but it was not a lack of troops or a surprise attack by the enemy as he said. In fact, what was more important was Comrade Oktyabryski's ideological organization of passive defense. In this battle, when we have the advantage in strength, we should attack the enemy rather than defend passively. You must know that our total strength is 380,000, which is more than twice that of the enemy. In addition, we also have the artillery of the fortress battery and the Black Sea Fleet. , they could have easily annihilated the 160,000 fascists who invaded the Crimean Peninsula, but Comrade Oktyabryski did not do that. Now, our advantage is losing little by little..."

"But, Comrade Mehlis!" Oktyabryski defended himself: "The enemy has air superiority, and it is difficult for our navy to play more roles. At the same time, the roads are muddy and unsuitable for attack. Doing so will cause our army to The troops suffered heavy casualties..."

"This is the reason why you lost this war, Comrade Oktyabryski!" Mehlis emphasized his criticism in a domineering tone: "Such cowardly thoughts are not allowed on the battlefield. You should do something about it. Deep reflection!”

Oktyabryski was speechless.

Mehlis is the Director of the General Political Department of the Red Army and Deputy People's Commissar of Defense. He is Stalin's closest confidant and a typical figure of the Stalin period...ignorant, arrogant, without much combat experience, and all he has is political correctness.

It is said that Mehlis once argued with someone about whether the moon would shine... Others told him that the moon itself does not shine, it just reflects the sun's light, but Mehlis did not think so, because the moon he saw It's obviously going to shine.

Indeed, this is difficult for a person who has not graduated from elementary school to understand.

Stalin was silent for a while, and then said: "I think what Comrade Mehlis said makes sense. We should boldly launch a counterattack against the Germans!"

"Comrade Stalin!" Oktyabryski hurriedly said as soon as he said this: "I think our army is not ready, and the current situation is not suitable for launching a counterattack!"

"Are you talking about the muddy road?" Stalin asked.

"This is one of the reasons..."

"But!" Stalin interrupted Oktyabryski: "Didn't the Germans launch their attack on these roads?"

When Stalin said this, Oktyabryski was speechless.

"Comrade Stalin!" Kuznetsov had to stand up at this time and said: "I also think that this is not a suitable time for counterattack. Our preparations are not very complete..."

"The Germans are also not fully prepared!" Stalin said: "In fact, we have sufficient intelligence to prove that the Germans' increased supplies and troops are inferior to ours. This means that if we can win the Battle of Moscow Defeat them then, and you can defeat them now!”

After a pause, Stalin continued: "Comrades, you have all seen the results of passive defense. A strong fortress like Sevastopole will be occupied by the enemy. I have reason to believe that if this continues, the Kerch Peninsula will also be occupied. It's the same fate. On the other hand, we all know one thing...the Germans are going to attack us when they're ready, and we don't even know where they're going to attack. So why don't we launch a counterattack now? On the one hand, we can disrupt their plans, and on the other hand, we can defend the Kerch Peninsula and take the initiative. You know, as long as we can defend the Kerch Peninsula, the enemy will not be able to attack!"

To a certain extent, Stalin's statement is correct.

Because the four armies on the Kerch Peninsula were like time bombs buried behind the German defense lines, like a thorn in the flesh, the Soviet army did not allow it to be easily disintegrated by the German army like Sevastopol.

And if the Soviet army launches a counterattack on the Kerch Peninsula in other directions, it can form a "cooperation inside and outside" trend, which will prevent the German army from implementing its offensive plan.

Seeing no one objected, Stalin ordered: "I order Comrade Mehlis, as the representative of the Supreme Command, to go to the Kerch Peninsula to inspect the preparations. When the time is right, it will be time for our entire army to face the enemy and launch a counterattack!"

Hearing this, Oktyabryski's heart sank to the bottom... He knew that on the surface, Mehlis was "inspecting preparations", but in fact he was a political representative with the power of life and death. This had already doomed the Kerch Peninsula. The counter-offensive is inevitable, and the one who directs the attack on the Kerch Peninsula is Mehlis, a fool who only talks about courage and spirit. One can imagine what will happen to the four armies in Kerch.

Oktyabryski gritted his teeth and wanted to prevent the tragedy from happening, but he heard Stalin continue: "Remove Comrade Oktyabryski from his post as commander of the Black Sea Fleet!"