Chapter 1666

In the coming New Year's offensive, trakov's guards of the eighth group army will be the first to fight. Therefore, during the period before the campaign, he received special attention from Zhukov. Even if he calls twice a day in the morning and evening to report the preparation, Zhukov still calls from time to time to learn some details of the attack preparation.

On December 24 and 25, the Germans who had suffered a lot from us entered a state of high alert, fearing that we would take advantage of the opportunity of Christmas in the west to launch a surprise attack on them.

After understanding this situation, Zhukov said to me with a smile: "Rita, it seems that you are not right. If we really attack the German army in accordance with your idea at Christmas today, we will certainly be hit head-on by the well prepared German army and suffer huge casualties."

"Marshal," I replied with some embarrassment when I heard Zhukov's kind criticism, "maybe the Germans have taken too much of our losses, so they have become cautious. You know, when I was in Stalingrad, it was on Christmas day that I commanded the troops to launch an attack on the enemy, and they lost their armor and suffered heavy losses. "

"The enemy is very cunning. They are not reconciled to their failure, so they will try their best to deal with us." After summing up the characteristics of the German army, Zhukov turned to malining and said, "chief of staff, call trakov and order him to send people to closely monitor the movement of the German army. Once the enemy's defense is relaxed, report to me immediately!"

After hearing this, malining grinned and kindly reminded Zhukov: "marshal, you just called general trakov half an hour ago and learned about the enemy situation there. So I think we should wait a little longer. It's better to wait until evening and call trekov again. Then we can find out the real trend of the Germans. "

In the evening, cuikov called to report to Zhukov: "Marshal comrade, according to my observation post, the enemy deployed in the first line of defense, there are signs of backward movement."

After hearing his report, Zhukov tentatively asked, "Comrade trakov, are you sure the enemy is retreating backward?"

"Yes, comrade marshal." "The observation post can see clearly that the forces and technical equipment deployed in the first line of defense in the past two days are transferring to the rear," trikov said positively

After listening to the report of trakov, Zhukov's face showed a smile: "OK, comrade trakov, I understand. The Germans did not find that our army was about to launch an attack on them, but they increased their strength in the first line of defense these two days just to prevent our army from launching an attack on them on Christmas day in the West. "

After waiting for Zhukov to finish, cuikov asked respectfully, "Comrade marshal, what instructions do you have?"

"There must be instructions." Zhukov beamed into the microphone and said, "let the Logistics Department of your group army make dumplings for the soldiers, so that everyone can have a good meal of Siberian Dumplings before the new year. Do you understand? "

"I see, comrade marshal." "The logistics department not only prepared Siberian Dumplings for the soldiers, but also prepared a lot of coffee, chocolate and cigarettes. Now that you've spoken, immediately ask the logistics department to give these new year gifts to the soldiers. "

Zhukov seems to have a new idea at this time: "Comrade trakov, I think among the new year's gifts you give to the soldiers, in addition to the ones just mentioned, you will finally give some champagne, at least one bottle for each class. We want to create a false impression on the enemy that we are preparing for the new year and have no intention of attacking them, so as to paralyze them and make them relax their vigilance. "

"That's a good idea." "I think the commanders will be very happy to know that there are new year's gifts, marshal. On behalf of them, I would like to thank you," trikov said happily

In the next two days, when the enemy in front of the landing site of magnushev saw our army officers and men holding celebrations, they thought that we were preparing for the new year, and our defense became more and more lax.

At three o'clock in the morning of the 29th, trakov called Zhukov from the front and reported to him, "Comrade marshal, the offensive troops have assembled and can fight at any time."

Zhukov raised his hand and looked at his watch. Then he looked out of the window and asked through the microphone, "Comrade trakov, there are still three and a half hours to go before the attack. What's the weather like there?"

"There are no stars and no moon in the sky." "Trekov replied," it's beginning to fog in the forest. I don't know if there will be thick fog in the whole battlefield later. "

When he heard that there was fog in the forest, malining was the first to lose his countenance. He anxiously said to Zhukov, "marshal, the thousands of airplanes in the air force at the airport have finished hanging their bombs and are ready to fight at any time. If there is fog, they will not be able to take part in the fight."

Zhukov waved to marinin and interrupted him. But he himself continued to command trakov: "Comrade trakov, immediately order the engineers to clear the mine in front of our army's trench, and at the same time, open up a passage for the army in the minefield in front of the German fortification. In addition, breakfast should be distributed to the commanders and fighters one hour before the preparation of artillery fire, so that they can take part in the battle when they are full. "

Two minutes before half past six in the morning, trakov called again and reported to Zhukov, "Comrade marshal, it's foggy in our attack area. Because the fog is too thick, you can't see anything clearly from ten meters away. "“ I see After listening to the other party's report, Zhukov thought a little, and then directly ordered: "the artillery preparation before the attack is on time, but because the fog is too thick, the air force can not take part in the battle for the time being, so your attack can only be completed by infantry and tanks, understand?"“ Yes, comrade marshal. " "I'll give the artillery an order to fire at once," trekov replied loudly After putting down the phone, Zhukov raised his hand to the sky with a long sigh, and then said, "I hope this damned fog doesn't make our attack fall short."“ Don't worry, comrade marshal. " Seeing that Zhukov was worried about gain and loss, I quickly comforted him and said, "general trakov's attack is seven kilometers in front, and the artillery density has reached an amazing 282. Even without the support of the air force, I believe they can successfully break through the German defense." Zhukov listened to me, turned to stare at me for a while, nodded and said slowly, "Rita, I hope you are right. As long as we can break through the German defense smoothly, the next battle will be easy to fight."