USSR 1941

At the headquarters of the 4th Tank Brigade, Major Zakhakovic looked at the map with a frown.

Seeing Shulka come in, Major Zakhakovic nodded and signaled Shulka to wait, then looked at the map again and stopped talking.

After a while, the main officers were almost all there. At this time, Major Zakhakovic said: "Comrades, the superior ordered us to launch a counterattack against Tula. The purpose is to drive the German 3rd Armored Division out of the Tula area and make up gap!"

The officers couldn't help talking after hearing the words.

"Comrade Zakhakovich!" Major Gavrilov said: "But we have a serious shortage of tanks, and with the five added just now, there are only 31 tanks!"

"The superiors will add some other types of tanks to us!" Major Zaha Kavic replied.

Although Major Gavrilov didn't say anything, everyone knows that other tanks are difficult to coordinate with the T34, and they are more used to make up numbers.

"How many tanks does the enemy have?" Venyakov asked.

"The initial estimate is about 100!" Major Zakhakovic replied.

The officers in the conference room fell silent after hearing this.

"We have almost no chance of victory!" Shulka said. "Because we had to finish the battle before dawn to hide ourselves, but attacking them with 31 tanks..."

"I know all of this!" Major Zahakavic said a little annoyedly: "I also know that the time to launch a counterattack has not yet come. We should wait for the enemy to break into the minefield, and then use the advantage of the minesweeping tank to be possible. We win more with less. But this is an order from the superior, understand? The order from the superior, we have no room for bargaining!"

"Then, the superior should at least give us a little more time!" Major Gavrilov said, "In another ten days, there will be another ten tanks replenished, and we may still have the ability to counterattack by then!"

"No, Comrade Gavrilov!" Major Zakhakovich said, "The superior's order is to launch a counterattack within ten days and drive the enemy out. The garrison in Tula will cooperate with our attack!"

After a moment of silence, Major Gavrilov asked, "Is it an order from the Supreme Command?"

Major Zakhakovich shook his head and replied: "It's Comrade Zhukov's order!"

There was silence in the headquarters, and the officers' faces or eyes were more or less unwilling.

Shulka knew what this meant. They could have played a greater role on the battlefield, but they had to die because of an inexplicable order... Although there are many things like this in the army, and they also know that the army is It is a bounden duty to obey orders, but it does not mean that everyone has no complaints.

After a moment of silence, Shulka asked, "Why ten days? The superior ordered us to do it within ten days!"

"I don't know!" Major Zakhakovic spread his hands and replied, "That's all I know!"

Then Shulka turned away in his head.

Assuming that this order was indeed issued by Zhukov, and Zhukov still issued this order knowing that the Fourth Tank Brigade was short of tanks, then he must have his own difficulties, otherwise he would not let the Fourth Tank Brigade just like this Go up and confront a German armored division.

What are the difficulties?

ten days?

ten days later is...

Then Shulka suddenly understood that it was a military parade on Red Square, and the Supreme Command decided to hold a military parade as usual at this difficult time to boost the morale of the soldiers and civilians.

It should be said that this is indeed useful. After the military parade was held and broadcast across the country, almost everyone's previous belief that the German army would soon occupy Moscow and then the entire Soviet Union was changed.

Perhaps it can be said that this military parade inspired an atmosphere of fighting against the enemy, causing many troops and even the common people to have a tragic mentality of stepping over their corpses even if they would eventually fail.

Of course, there are other reasons for this. For example, the temperature dropped sharply after the Red Square parade on November 7, which is obviously extremely unfavorable to the German army. In addition, reinforcements from the Far East Front Army also arrived one after another, which finally brought the battle to a halt. Turn defeat into victory.

But these are not issues that Shulka needs to consider. He guessed the reason for Zhukov's order: to prepare for the Red Square military parade.

During the military parade, the defense line will be weak in all directions. Once the German army knows that the Soviet army is parading, they will launch a fierce attack at that time, and the German 3rd Armored Division, which has crossed the defense line and surrounded Tula... may take risks Attack on Moscow.

Although this is a risk for the German army, they do have the possibility of success, even if they fail in the end... If the Soviet army just finished the military parade on the Red Square and the Germans hit the city of Moscow, this will undoubtedly greatly reduce the role of the military parade It may even be counterproductive.

Shulka was about to say the reason, but stopped after thinking about it.

The military parade on Red Square was undoubtedly a military secret at this time.

Once this news leaks out, the German army will prepare in advance and even have a complete offensive plan, which will multiply the pressure on the Mozhaysk defense line, and even the entire defense line may completely collapse because of this.

If this is the case, then Shulka, the instigator who leaked the news, is afraid that no matter how much credit he makes, no matter how much effort he makes, it will be ruined.

"Why are you in a daze, Shulka!" Major Gavrilov asked, "Think about how we can accomplish this task!"

"Major!" Shulka replied: "We...maybe we can complete this task in another way!"

"What is another way?" Major Gavrilov said, "As long as the task can be completed, no matter what way it is!"

"The Germans occupied the railway bridge and then succeeded in breaking through the line of defense to encircle Tula from the rear!" Shulka said: "That is to say, the German penetration troops completely rely on this railway bridge. If we blow up this railway Where's the bridge?"

"No, Shulka!" Major Zakhakovich said, "You didn't complete the task in a different way, but you didn't complete the task at all. Blowing up the railway bridge and driving the enemy out of Tula are two different things!"

Shulka said nothing.

It does seem to be two different things, but if the German 3rd Armored Division, which the superiors are worried about, takes advantage of the Soviet military parade to attack Moscow with all its strength, it is one thing.

Because, if the railway bridge is blown up, the German 3rd Armored Division certainly does not have the ability or to attack Moscow so quickly.

Major Gavrilov asked: "Blowing up the railway bridge seems to be a way. It is beneficial to us anyway. I mean, it can cut off the enemy's supplies. Besides, why don't we ask the command for instructions?"