USSR 1941

Major General Anuvrievich knew what Katukov was talking about, and if the Germans paused their offensive in the direction of Volokolamsk, then it is quite possible to turn their attention to Tver, which is very bad for Tver It's not a good thing to say.

But Major General Anufrievich also understood why Katukov sighed... This is an order from the Supreme Command, and no one can challenge this order.

"We have already discussed this issue, Comrade Katukov!" Major General Anufryevich said: "And more than once, what you need to consider is not this, but how to occupy Tver as soon as possible... In a crisis Before coming!"

"Yes, Comrade Major General!" Katukov replied.

In fact, Katukov not only discussed with Major General Anuvrievich, he also argued with Commissar Fomin.

As the political commissar of the 333rd regiment, Fumin was also sent to Tver as a cover as an important figure.

"This is a wrong plan!" Katukov said: "It does not make any sense to continue the counterattack, it will only put the Mozhaisky line of defense in danger!"

Katukov did not dare to say "Moscow is in danger", because this would be considered a dangerous statement of demagogy, defeatism.

"In fact it makes sense!" Commissar Fumin said: "As long as we occupy Tver, it will deal a serious blow to the German logistics!"

"You also said... 'as long as'!" Katukov replied: "The problem is that it is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it forms a salient in our defense line. Even if we occupy Tver, it will not last long! Strategic significance Is it one thing, is it realistic, is it feasible is another! If so, I think Berlin is very important, why don't we attack Berlin?"

"Comrade Katukov!" In the end, Commissar Fumin could only reply helplessly: "You may not understand something, this is not something I can decide!"

Katukov also calmed down when he heard the words. He nodded and replied, "I know, Comrade Commissar! I just... want to say what's on my mind!"

Commissar Fuming nodded his head in understanding.

In fact, it was not Zhukov who was most depressed. He was at least sitting in the headquarters. Although it was uncomfortable to be relieved of his command, everyone knew that it was not Zhukov's fault.

The most repressed are actually the frontline commanders and fighters.

Soldiers charge pointlessly at the front,

Batches fell under the guns of the enemy, so all the confusion and pressure will be pressed on the grassroots commanders from the bottom up...they bear two pressures, from the superior and from the subordinates, and even their own conscience condemned, but they can't say anything, and even risk their own lives for it.

As Major General Anufrievich said, this is not something Katukov should consider.

However, Major General Anufrievich soon found out that he was wrong... From the inside, maybe this should not be considered, but this is just a way to avoid reality, and the battlefield is real, and it is cruel reality.

"Comrade Major General!" Just when Major General Anufryevich was still worrying about capturing Tver, the communications soldier reported loudly: "Our left wing has spotted enemy tanks!"

Major General Anufrievich raised his head abruptly, and Colonel Katukov stopped what he was doing and looked this way.

"How many are there? What's the serial number?" Major General Anufrievich asked.

"I don't know!" The communications soldier replied.

"Reconnaissance immediately!"

"yes!"

After Anufrievich gave the order, he walked up and down the office anxiously.

This is also one of the drawbacks of the Supreme Command commanding operations. At this time, the Soviet army was worried that they would be flanked by the enemy, and there are still signs of it.

It stands to reason that the Soviet army should organize a retreat as soon as possible instead of reconnaissance.

The fighter plane is fleeting, and many times on the battlefield, it is not necessary to have a clear reconnaissance before proceeding to the next move, especially at such a dangerous moment... It is better to be wrong than to miss it, because once the southwest comes from the German army If the attack is confirmed, the Soviet army will be surrounded. It is very dangerous to continue to attack Tver or to stop here waiting for the reconnaissance results.

The problem is that without definite reconnaissance results, the Supreme Command will not agree to retreat at all.

Anufrievich knew this, and so did Katukov.

So, they had to wait, waiting for the frontline troops to get the "evidence".

A few minutes later, the reconnaissance results did not come, but the flanking crisis information was uploaded one by one:

"Enemy tanks are coming more and more, at least one tank battalion!"

"They broke through our perimeter defenses, and Comrade Agafonov died!"

"We are bombed by enemy planes. Comrade Stasiev requests reinforcements!"

...

At this moment Anufrievich could no longer care about waiting for the results of the reconnaissance.

In fact, it is usually difficult to get any reconnaissance results when the enemy is under a strong attack, because the Soviet army is retreating and the enemy is advancing, and it will be very difficult to capture prisoners and get information from them.

"Comrade Rokossovsky!" Anufrievich reported on the phone: "We are under heavy enemy attack, south-west... I request to retreat, otherwise we may be surrounded by the enemy!"

Rokossovsky couldn't help being stunned when he heard this. In fact, he had long wanted to withdraw the troops attacking Tver, but this was also not something he could decide.

So Rokossovsky called Zhukovna, the headquarters of the Western Front Army.

Although Zhukov actually no longer has the command, he is still the commander in name.

Zhukov could only turn his attention to Bulganin, and Bulganin also knew that this matter was no small matter, so he contacted the Supreme Command... From this we can also see that this command system and process are complicated, and it takes a long time. There was a problem with one of the links and they couldn't be contacted, so it could almost be said that there was no one in command.

Because Rokossovsky, including Zhukov and Bulganin, did not dare to make claims.

This is the disadvantage of remote command, but there are many people on the battlefield who like to command remotely like this.

Then, when the front line was imminent, the Supreme Command issued an order unhurriedly: "That may be a small group of enemy troops ordering our tank troops to block their attack in order to disperse the pressure of our army's attack!"

Anufrievich couldn't help yelling when he got this order, which almost meant that they were waiting to die here.

However, the strange thing is that the German attack slowed down at this time... Their purpose does not seem to be to encircle and annihilate this Soviet army.