USSR 1941

Anufrievich finally ordered Colonel Katukov to command two tank brigades to go up to block the German attack.

Of course, it is said that there are two tank brigades, but the total number of tanks is only 70, and most of them are light tanks, which are not as powerful as the enemy's tank regiment.

Then the results of the reconnaissance came out. The enemy was an armored division, that is, the 11th Armored Division and the 106th Infantry Regiment.

Major General Anufrievich hurriedly reported the news to his superiors, and after more than an hour of waiting, the Supreme Command finally issued an order to retreat.

"They finally admitted their mistake!" Major Anufryevich muttered in a low voice, but no one could hear what he said.

What Anufrievich said is that another meaning of the Supreme Command's order to retreat is to admit that the counterattack plan has been completely bankrupt... The counterattack in the direction of Serpukhov has suffered heavy casualties before it is launched. Volok Although the direction of Ramsk played a defensive line to attack Tver, they had no choice but to retreat in the face of the dilemma of being surrounded.

Therefore, apart from the loss of a large amount of equipment, troops and morale of the troops, it can be said that there is nothing to gain.

The troops began to retreat to Volokolamsk in a steady stream. At this time, the German army divided into several directions to attack so that the tank troops commanded by Katukov were overwhelmed... Of course, the number of tanks in Katukov's hands was small, so it was impossible to divide the troops. Otherwise, it is easy to be defeated by the enemy one by one.

As a result, the retreat of the Soviet army to the direction of Volokolamsk was quickly cut off, and nearly 20,000 people were trapped in the encirclement.

At the Western Front Command, when Zhukov was frowning and thinking about how to face the situation in front of him, the phone rang.

The call was made by Stalin, who asked to speak to Zhukov by name.

This surprised Zhukov, because Bulganin had been contacted by his superiors before, and then Bulganin gave orders to himself.

After Zhukov picked up the phone to identify himself, Stalin's voice rang on the other end of the phone: "Do you think we can hold Moscow? I feel a little heavy! As a party member, please make an objective evaluation of the current situation at this time !"

Although this remark did not admit anything, there is no doubt that Stalin had given up hope for the situation in front of him.

Although the Soviet army fought vigorously in the Volokolamsk area, the recovery of Tver failed completely. Not only did Moscow fail to get through the railway line to obtain reinforcements and equipment from Leningrad,

Instead, the last bit of reserve force was lost... The 20,000 people who were surrounded in Tver were only part of them. The Soviet army invested 100,000 people in this counterattack plan and deployed advanced and scarce equipment, such as "Katyusha" "Bazooka and anti-tank guns squeezed from various defensive units.

But now, apart from the few thousand people left in the direction of Serpukhov and the main force of the fourth tank brigade who did not follow the order to leave Tver, there are only 20,000 people who were surrounded in Tver.

"Yes!" Zhukov replied: "I firmly believe that we can hold Moscow!"

After a pause, Zhukov added: "However, I need at least two additional armies and 200 tanks!"

"Very good!" Stalin replied: "You call the General Staff and discuss the assembly points of the two army groups you want. I will give you these troops, but it will take some time, but there are still no tanks. You Be sure to persevere!"

Then Stalin hung up the phone.

Soon, Bulganin received a call from the Supreme Command, and then he said to Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, the Supreme Command ordered me to obey your orders and assist you in command!"

In other words, the command once again returned to Zhukov.

Zhukov didn't dare to neglect, he called Rokossovsky and asked, "How is the situation, I will command you now!"

The second half of the sentence seems to be nonsense, because the 16th Army has always been commanded by the Western Front, that is, Zhukov.

But Rokossovsky understood the meaning of these words, so he immediately replied: "The situation is not good, Comrade General! We are now facing two difficulties!"

"What difficulty?"

"The first thing is whether we want to rescue Tver!" Rokossovsky said: "The Germans don't seem to be in a hurry to completely close the encirclement, nor are they in a hurry to annihilate the besieged troops. You know what they want to do!"

"Yes!" Zhukov nodded.

Obviously, this is the strategy of the Germans to "siege around and fight for reinforcements". They hope to lure the Soviet army to reinforce Tver, and the Soviet army has only one unit capable of reinforcing Tver...the fourth tank brigade.

"What about the other difficulty?" Zhukov asked.

"We can no longer implement the 'see-saw tactics' like before!" Rokossovsky replied.

Zhukov immediately understood why.

The essence of "see-saw tactics" is to retreat when in a weak situation during the day, and to counterattack at night when the enemy's air force is unable to play a role.

But now, Tver has been surrounded by the German army, and the 316th Division and the main force of the 4th Tank Brigade are still retreating as planned... which means giving up hope of rescue Tver!

So Zhukov also fell into a dilemma.

To save or not to save?

It is very likely that not only will no one be rescued, but more people will be trapped in the encirclement.

If not saved, it was a force of 20,000 people. In addition, it was also equipped with "Katyusha", anti-tank guns, and even dozens of T34s that the Soviet army was in short supply.

You must know that at this time, even the T34s of the Fourth Tank Brigade are not fully equipped. These dozens of T34s and 20,000 people are likely to be the last pillar of the entire Soviet defense line.

Of course, this is the responsibility of the Supreme Command, and their counter-offensive plan is simply to send these scarce equipment into the enemy's encirclement.

But this is not the time for accountability, and of course it cannot be.

After thinking about it, Zhukov ordered: "You ask for the Italian construction of the Fourth Tank Brigade, and I want to know whether they are sure to rescue them!"

"Yes, Comrade General!" Rokossovsky replied.

But having said that, Rokossovsky knew in his heart... Zhukov's so-called "consultation from the Fourth Tank Brigade" was actually not talking about the Fourth Tank Brigade, but the "breakout hero" Shulka .

Of course, as a general, Zhukov certainly would not say to his subordinates: "Ask that Shulka and see what he can do!"

If you say this, Zhukov, a general who is also the commander of the Western Front Army and can even be said to be the commander of the entire Moscow Defense War, will have no place to show his face.

So, Rokossovsky took a few guards and drove to the front-line headquarters in a car.