Chapter 1664

With our efforts, by the afternoon of December 18, our army had assembled 23 divisions and 5348 guns on the landing site of magnushev.

At the same time, we also learned about the German counterattack against the allies in Arden through formal channels.

After hearing the news, Zhukov sneered: "the Germans are really getting impatient. They can't support the Allied attack. They launch a counter attack at this time. They really don't think they are dying fast enough."

And malining also said with high spirits: "marshal, since the Germans really have a close relationship with the allies in the western front, it is possible for them to deploy their reserves in front of us to reinforce in this area. Do you think we are launching an attack on the German army at this time? "

"The time is not yet ripe to attack the German army." Without waiting for Zhukov to speak, I hastened to say, "although the enemy fought with the allies in Aden, the German troops deployed in front of our army must have kept a high degree of vigilance. If we launch an attack at the time when the enemy is on the most alert, it is estimated that even if we pay a huge price, it will be difficult to achieve any ideal results."

"Tell me about it, Rita." When Zhukov heard what I said, he asked with great interest, "when is the best time to attack?"

"There's another week, Christmas in the West." I replied with a smile: "we can let the Germans have another quiet Christmas Eve, and then launch a sudden attack on them in the early morning of December 25 to surprise them."

"Rita has a good point. On Christmas morning, the German army should be at the most relaxed moment. We can certainly achieve the ideal result by launching an attack at this time." Zhukov nodded after listening, but he quickly said: "now there is only one week left, which is not enough for us to complete the troop assembly and material hoarding. I think the best time should be after the new year. By that time, both the German and the Allied forces are exhausted. If we attack unexpectedly, we will surely defeat the enemy."

As soon as Zhukov set the date for the attack, Stalin's phone call came in unexpectedly. He told Zhukov on the phone: "Comrade Zhukov, our allies asked us for help. They said that their troops were suddenly attacked by the German army on the western line, the defense line had been broken through, and the troops were in chaos. President Roosevelt called me and asked me if I could take some necessary military action in Poland to keep the main force of the German army in the east so that they could not go to Aden to reinforce. "

"Comrade Stalin," Zhukov was a little surprised by Stalin's order. He said solemnly to the microphone, "just a few minutes ago, Rita advised me to launch a sudden attack on the German army opposite the magnushev landing site in the early morning of Christmas day in the West. I rejected her on the grounds that the troops had not yet assembled and that the materials for continuous combat were not sufficient. "

"Comrade Zhukov," Stalin said solemnly after Zhukov finished, "when do you think is a good time to attack?"

"I think our troops will not be ready to attack until after January 15 at the earliest." Zhukov solemnly reported to Stalin, "we will have enough strength to destroy the enemy's defense."

As soon as I heard Zhukov's date, I knew it would be rejected by Stalin. Sure enough, after listening to Zhukov's date, Stalin said slowly, "Comrade Zhukov, our allies are now facing difficulties. We must not let them be defeated by the German army. In that way, the Germans may transfer their forces from the west to the East, making it more difficult for us to attack next. "

Although Stalin did not say that Zhukov's date was too late, Zhukov was also a wise man. He recognized Stalin's voice and politely asked, "Comrade Stalin, I don't know when you think is the best time to attack?"

"December 29," I can't see Stalin's expression, but I can also guess that he is holding his cigarette end, holding the microphone in one hand and waving in the other: "Comrade Zhukov, let's take this date as our last attack date!"

Seeing that Stalin had fixed the final date of attack, Zhukov could not object but said with a stiff head: "well, comrade Stalin, our troops will launch a new year's offensive against the German troops in front of the landing site of magnusev in the early morning of December 29, and completely smash their defenses."

As soon as Zhukov put down the phone, he told malining, "chief of staff, call all the commanders of the group army immediately and inform them to go to the headquarters of the front army to hold an emergency military meeting in the evening."

After dark, all the group army commanders, military commissars and chief of staff who received the notice came to the conference room of the headquarters of the front army. Seeing all the people coming, Zhukov stood up and said to them, "comrades, we have just received the order from the supreme command to launch an attack on the German army in the early morning of December 29. Now let's ask the chief of staff, general malining, to introduce the situation and give us operational orders. "

Malining stood up, faced with the swarthy commander, and said, "heads of the group army, at present, we have assembled six group armies at two landing sites on the West Bank. The defensive assault against the enemy will be carried out in two steps.

First of all, the 8th group army of guards, the 5th group army and the 61st group army of assault assembled at the landing site of magnushev, and the 1st and 2nd group army of guard tanks behind the landing site, together with a combined group army of various arms, made a strong impact on Warsaw from the South to the direction of Rava mazowitzka and skernivezevovich, so as to make a detour to Warsaw. The purpose of this assault is to cut off the contact between the whole German Warsaw group and the rear. At the same time, our tank group will also move forward to the enemy's traffic line. Secondly, we carried out the second assault from the pwawi landing site to the direction of radom, tomashuv mazowitzki. What will attack there are the 69th and 33rd group armies strengthened by two tank armies and one cavalry army. The 1st and 47th Polish army will occupy the front along the visva River northward from the landing site of magnushev. " Malining finally announced to all the leaders of the group army: "we should completely crush the enemy in this campaign, but we should keep Warsaw and other Polish cities from being destroyed. Do you understand? "“ I see! " The following dozens of group army leaders answered in unison.