Chapter 1013

"What? Six new tanks can deal with a German tank regiment? " Rokosovsky's face showed an incredible expression. If he didn't know something about me, he would have refuted it.

"Yes, comrade rokosovsky." Stalin stood up at this time and supported me: "what Rita said is true. Our newly developed tank is an invincible existence for the German aggressors. "

Although Stalin did not tell rokosovsky that these new tanks were made under the guidance of later engineers for the sake of confidentiality, he was overjoyed. He excitedly calculated the armored forces of the enemy and us: "six can be a tank regiment of the German army. If our central front army can be equipped with 120, even if the result is discounted, then at least we can pay thousands of German tanks."

"Comrade rokosovsky, you are too early to be happy." Stalin suddenly poured cold water on the somewhat complacent rokosovsky: "with our existing production process and steel-making technology, it is temporarily impossible to mass produce the special steel needed for new tanks. In other words, it is totally impossible for our troops to equip new tanks in the near future. "

Stalin's words not only surprised rokosovsky, but also surprised me. I didn't expect that after this new type of tank was manufactured, it would be unable to train troops on a large scale because of the lack of special steel. Then in the next battle of Kursk, there would be no chance for the new tank to show its power.

"But Comrade Stalin, I have another question." After a moment's absence, rokosovsky soon returned to normal. He respectfully asked, "when can the tank army of our front army get the tanks that they are supplied with?"

On hearing this question, Stalin thought for a moment and replied, "I think it will be as soon as the middle of June before your central front army can be supplemented with tanks and other technical equipment."

"Comrade Stalin, with all due respect." After listening to Stalin's reply, rokosovsky said: "from Kharkov to Kursk, there are almost plains, which is very conducive to the large-scale mechanized assault of the German army. If we don't have enough armor to fight against it, we can't stop hundreds of German tanks. "

Stalin was very tolerant of rokosovsky's complaints. After smoking a cigarette, he said: "Comrade rokosovsky, although the base camp can not provide enough tanks for the central front army for the time being, there are other defensive means to deal with the German tanks. A series of experiences and lessons in the war tell us that the success or failure of anti tank battle is the key to resist the German attack. At the beginning of the war, our army was beaten to the ground by the German army, which was directly caused by the failure of anti tank operations. They were first defeated by the German tanks, and then surrounded and annihilated by a large number of German infantry

"Comrade Stalin, I don't know what kind of defensive measures we should take to deal with the large-scale armored assault that might be launched by the German army?" "Even if we have a defense depth of one or two hundred kilometers, our defense will not be able to cope with the assault of German tanks," rokosowski said anxiously

"Don't worry, comrade rokosovsky." Stalin said slowly: "although the base camp has not provided enough tanks for your front army for the time being, there are other means of defense. For example, the rocket launchers that are being mass-produced or the assault rifles that will soon be installed in the army. There is also an anti tank trench He told rokosovsky about the length, width and height of the "Golan trench" I reported

After listening to this, rokosovsky pondered a little and asked with half faith: "Comrade Stalin, this kind of anti tank trench you mentioned sounds like a powerful one, but I don't know how effective it can be in actual combat."

Stalin pointed at me with his pipe holding hand and said, "after the launch of this new type of anti tank trench, the small team led by Comrade Ustinov had made a special test. From the report he gave me this morning, we can see that no matter how powerful the German armored forces are, there is nothing they can do in front of such an anti tank trench. Since this kind of anti tank trench was developed by Rita, I suggest that it be named after her surname, that is, "o'shanina trench."

Stalin's words almost made me sit on the ground. Originally an anti tank trench named after the Minister of defense of Israel, it turned into an anti tank trench named after myself.

After a short silence, Stalin said with a smile, "Rita, I don't know if you are interested in commanding a front army alone? If you have this wish, I can consider appointing you as the commander of the newly formed reserve front army, which will be deployed in the northeast of Kursk as the reserve of the central front army and Voronezh front army. "

Although Stalin himself said this, I can only take it as a joke. My qualifications and prestige in the army are not enough. If I want to take charge of the overall situation in a certain direction, I will certainly attract a lot of opposition. Besides, I have no experience in commanding the overall situation, so I can't do it well.

I knew very well that I was not suitable to be an independent commander, so I truthfully reported to Stalin and said, "Comrade Stalin, thank you for your kindness. However, judging from the current situation, my ability is limited and I can't be the commander of the newly formed front army for the time being. Please choose someone else. "

Stalin seemed ready for my answer. After hearing this, he did not express any opinions. Instead, he called rokosovsky and I to the table, pointed to the map above and said to me, "take a look at this map. I'll tell you about the deployment of new forces.

The Western Front Army will be deployed near Kaluga. In addition to the 11th group army, the remaining 10th group army, 50th group army, close guard 1st group army, 61st group army, and air force 1st group army will be mainly responsible for the defense of the Oka River Valley and monitor the German central group army group in the Bryansk and Oreal regions.

The buliansk front army, which is composed of the 4th group army of the guards, the 3rd group army of the tanks, the 3rd group army of the infantry, the 63rd group army, and the 15th group army of the air force, will be responsible for the flank defense of the Western Front Army.

Next, your central front army and Voronezh front army of vatukin will be responsible for building sufficient defense depth in the Kursk area to resist the possible German attack. "

Before concluding his speech, Stalin also asked a specific question: "Comrade rokosovsky, do you really think it is not suitable for us to fight back against the German army now?"

"Yes, comrade Stalin." On hearing Stalin's question, rokosovsky immediately replied without hesitation: "because the weather is getting warmer and the roads are muddy due to melting snow, the supply situation of troops is very bad, and many troops are very tired after a long battle. If we launch a hasty counterattack against the German army under such circumstances, I don't see any hope of success. "

After rokosovsky's words, Stalin said thoughtfully: "up to now, except for vatukin and Khrushchev, both Zhukov and vasilevsky strongly request me not to launch a rash counterattack against the German army under the current situation, so as not to consume the elite troops that have been hard accumulated."

"Exactly, comrade Stalin." Rokosovsky listened to Stalin say what he wanted to say, and quickly echoed: "so I suggest that our troops stay in the existing defense zone for the time being and build fortifications. We will launch the final counterattack after we have consumed a lot of the enemy's strength in our defense. "

After rokosovsky finished, Stalin walked to the telephone not far away, picked up the phone and dialed a number. A moment later, I heard him asking, "Hello, is that Comrade Zhukov? Have you received any information about the enemy? "

Because the room is very quiet, even if I stand four or five meters away from Stalin, I can still hear the voice in the receiver clearly. Zhukov replied slowly, "yes, comrade Stalin, I just received the reconnaissance report from Voronezh's front army."

"Send someone to me immediately." Stalin ordered briefly.

Zhukov quickly replied, "Comrade Stalin, I have sent the latest information to you. I believe you will see it soon."

Almost at the same time, there was another noise at the door. Then, with a piece of paper in his hand, bosklebshev walked quickly to Stalin's side, and then stood still.

Stalin glanced at him and said to the microphone, "Comrade Zhukov, I think the information sent by you has arrived. I will contact you after I have read it." Then he hung up.

Stalin took the piece of paper in bosklebshev's hand and frowned after looking at it. After reading it, he slowly came up to us, handed the paper to rokosovsky, and said in a flat tone: "Comrade rokosovsky, have a look at the latest information."

When rokosovsky was looking at the intelligence, I couldn't help but put my head close to see what was written on it, which could make Stalin's expression so serious. If you don't look at it, you'll be in a cold sweat. It says:

"At present, the enemy of Voronezh's front army is:

1. There are nine infantry divisions in the first line (26th, 68th, 323th, 75th, 2555th, 57th, 332nd, 167th and one with unknown serial number). These divisions occupied and defended the Red October village, grand chernetchener, krasnopolier and kazatskoye. The unknown division, according to the prisoner's confession, was on its way to sauerdatskoye to change shifts with the 332nd infantry division.

The information is being verified. There is unconfirmed intelligence that the enemy has six infantry divisions in the second echelon. The locations of these divisions have not yet been identified and this information is being verified. According to radio reconnaissance, there is a Hungarian division headquarters in Kharkov region. The division may have been transferred to a secondary direction.

2. At present, the enemy has six tank divisions (big Germanic, Adolf Hitler, skeleton, Empire, 6th and 11th tank divisions), three of which are in the first line, and three of them (big Germanic, 6th and 11th tank divisions) are in the second line. According to radio reconnaissance information, the headquarters of the enemy's 17th tank division has moved from aleksyevsky to tashagovka. This shows that the l? The tank division is moving north. According to the current strength, the enemy may transfer three additional tank divisions from the southwest front to the Belgorod region.

3. Therefore, it is expected that the enemy may form an assault group of 10 tank divisions and at least 6 infantry divisions in Voronezh. The cluster will have 1500 tanks in total, and is expected to be concentrated in the regions of borisovka, Belgorod, Murom and qazachialopan. The assault group is likely to be supported by a strong aviation force of about 500 bombers and at least 300 fighter sails. The enemy's attempt was to launch a centripetal assault from the bergorod region to the northeast and from the Oreal region to the southeast, so as to encircle our troops west of the line between bergorod and Kursk. Later, it is expected that the enemy will assault the flank and rear of our southwest front army in the southeast direction, so as to ensure the future combat in the north direction. However, this possibility cannot be ruled out, that is, within this year, the enemy will give up the plan to attack the southeast and, after completing the centripetal assault carried out by the region of Belgorod and Orel, attack the northeast again to bypass Moscow. This possibility should be anticipated and the reserves prepared accordingly. " While I was reading information with rokosovsky, Stalin picked up the phone again. He said, "Comrade Zhukov, what do you think of the information provided by vatukin and Khrushchev?"“ Yes, comrade Stalin. " Zhukov said in a smooth tone: "we should let the commanders and fighters of the central front army and Voronezh front army seize the time to build strong fortifications in the direction of korsk to prevent possible German attacks." After Zhukov finished, Stalin asked politely, "when do you think the German attack will start?"“ Judging from the current situation, the enemy is not ready for a large-scale attack. The attack is not expected to be launched earlier than 20 April this year, or it may be in early May. " After finishing his analysis, Zhukov, perhaps in order to enhance Stalin's confidence, specially stressed: "the troops of general rebalko who occupied Kiev will also contain some German troops and technical equipment, so that they must spend more time to prepare for the attack." With a long sigh, Stalin said reluctantly, "Comrade Zhukov, you are right in your analysis of the enemy's situation. Under the present circumstances, we should not rashly counter attack the German army, so as not to lose the troops we have managed to accumulate in a hopeless counter attack. As you said, all the troops turned to defense on the spot to prepare for the coming German attack. "