The decisive battle against the Third Reich

Therefore, if we go by previous battles and estimates of the German combat effectiveness, the time it took for more than 600 German troops to hold the sandbank for a week is a small amount of time. Even Yeremenko lost the time to capture the sandbank, not to mention... Stalinger at that time I'm afraid it should have been lost long ago.

At this time, Chuikov called Yeremenko again: "Comrade Yeremenko, how is the situation of the attack on the sandbank?"

Yeremenko sighed and replied: "Comrade Chuikov, we have failed!"

"Failed? What does failure mean?" Chuikov simply couldn't believe what he heard. He originally thought he would hear good news when he called this time, but who would have thought that things turned out to be completely opposite to what he imagined.

"The Germans have received reinforcements!" Yeremenko replied concisely and clearly: "They put people and supplies in oil drums, put them down in Renok and floated them to the sandbank... We didn't expect them to do this, so The Germans have gained a foothold on the sandbar!"

Cuikov couldn't help but turn pale when he heard this, and he stood there for a long time, unable to speak.

"I think you should withdraw from Stalingrad, Comrade Chuikov!" Yeremenko said: "I will report this situation to Comrade Stalin. You have done your best!"

Yeremenko was right, Chuikov had done enough in Stalingrad. In fact, although everyone is shouting slogans to defend Stalingrad to the death, few people believe that it can be defended. Lopatin is a living example.

But after Chuikov took over the 62nd Army and entered Stalingrad, the strategies and tactics he implemented were refreshing to everyone, and he had hope of holding Stalingrad.

But as the saying goes, "Everything depends on people, and everything depends on heaven." The loss of Shazhou directly led to a serious deterioration of Stalingrad's logistics. Objectively speaking, this has nothing to do with Chuikov, because Shazhou belongs to the defense area of ​​the Southeast Front. If we are to investigate the responsibility , it is more the responsibility of Yeremenko and Khrushchev.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and then Chuikov replied: "No, as I said, either stay here or die here!"

After saying that, the phone hung up.

Yeremenko sighed, then turned to Khrushchev and said: "I think we should report the whole matter to Comrade Stalin!"

Five o'clock in the morning, Moscow.

When the staff officer walked into the office with a telegram, Stalin had just finished answering a phone call. He cursed angrily: "Millions of Soviets sacrificed their lives in the fight against fascism, but Churchill paid for 20 It's outrageous to bargain with us for the "Hurricane" fighter jets! What's more, their "Hurricane" fighter jets are useless and none of our pilots like them!"

Stalin was right. The only thing the British army could compete with the German army was the Spitfire. The Hurricane, which had a speed of 300 to 500 kilometers per hour, could no longer gain an advantage in air combat. The British had already modified it into a "combat fighter". "Bomber" means to cooperate with infantry to attack ground targets, such as installing a 40MM cannon to attack tanks.

However, because the Soviet army was extremely short of resources and its fighter planes were very backward, they still needed these fighters to supplement their air power.

Seeing Stalin's anger, the staff officer hesitated while holding the telegram in his hand.

Stalin immediately realized that this was bad news. He lit his pipe and took a puff, then reached out and motioned to give him the telegram.

The staff officer gingerly handed the telegram to Stalin. Stalin read it for a while, and then fell into deep thought.

After a while, Stalin raised his head and said: "Order Zhukov and Vasizokovsky to come to Moscow immediately!"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" The staff officer couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when he turned around, seeming to be glad that Stalin didn't get angry.

Early the next morning, Zhukov and Vasilevsky rushed to Stalin's office.

It is normal for Stalin to ask Zhukov to report, because he is commanding two front armies in a fierce battle with the German army in Stalingrad, and he is the person who knows the situation on the front line best.

As for Vasilevsky, he was the Chief of General Staff of the Soviet Army and a military think tank deeply trusted by Stalin.

In fact, both of them knew why Stalin summoned them, but they stood tall in front of Stalin and did not dare to speak.

Stalin acted as if he had not seen the two of them. He held a smoking pipe in his hand and stared at the huge portraits of Soviet commanders Suvorov and Kutuzov hanging on the wall of his office without saying a word.

(Note: Suvorov is the founder of Russian military scholarship and a victorious general. Kutuzov is Suvorov’s general and is known as the first general in Tsarist Russia. He commanded the battle against Napoleon)

Suddenly, Stalin withdrew his gaze and asked as soon as he opened his mouth: "What do we need if we want to defeat the German army?"

This question could not help but surprise Zhukov and Vasilevsky. They thought Stalin was thinking about the imminent and unchangeable defeat in Stalingrad, but Stalin was thinking about how to win.

This seems to be where Stalin excelled.

After Zhukov thought for a moment, he replied: "We need an elite group army, two tank corps and more than 1,000 howitzers. In addition, we must focus on supplementing at least one air force group!"

"What do you think?" Stalin asked Zhukov: "If I give you the troops you need!"

Zhukov couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this. He just felt that only by obtaining these troops could he be evenly matched with the German army or overwhelm the German army. He had no specific detailed plan.

Vasilevsky continued: "Comrade Stalin, I think the current situation is very unfavorable to us, especially the Baku oil fields were occupied by the Germans, which has dealt a great blow to our industry. In addition...if Stalin If Gullah falls!"

Stalin nodded to show that he understood what Vasilevsky meant.

The fall of Stalingrad had a greater psychological and morale impact on the Soviet army, and no one knew how bad its impact would be.

"So, we have to be prepared!" Stalin said: "I mean, what should we do next if Stalingrad falls?"

"I think we must get help from the British and Americans, Comrade Stalin!" Vasilevsky replied: "Although they are indeed providing us with supplies, it is not enough, and their offensive in Africa has stalled. The stalemate cannot pose a threat or contain the German army at all!"

"This is exactly what they need!" Stalin said: "They want to see us fighting the Germans and losing both sides!"

"Then change it!" Vasilevsky replied.