As a man from later generations, Rokossovsky knew what the Battle of Kursk meant. This battle was a watershed moment in the Soviet-German war. Before the start of the campaign, the German army still held a limited strategic initiative and was able to independently choose the time and place to launch a strategic offensive; After the battle, the Germans completely lost the strategic initiative and switched from strategic offensive to strategic defense, from which the Soviet army began a large-scale offensive to regain its territory.

However, the significance of this battle has so far been known only to Rokossovsky. Neither the Soviet High Command nor the German High Command realized that the battle in the Kursk arc would be another turning point and the last key turning point on the Eastern Front.

Stalin was in a particularly bad mood in the past two days, thinking that his troops could strike first and catch the Germans by surprise, but who knew that the German counterattack came so quickly, and the battle had just lasted two days, and the two fronts in the north and south of the Kursk arc fell into an unfavorable situation. Especially to the south, which was defended by Vatutin's troops, the defensive line was in danger of being broken by the Germans at any time. Once the Germans had completed the breakthrough, Rokossovsky's troops in the north were again in a situation where they were exposed to the enemy.

Just as Stalin was standing in front of the map, staring at the arrows that represented the signs of friend and foe, the telephone on his desk suddenly rang. He glanced at the phone, took the pipe in his mouth, walked over slowly, picked up the microphone with some reluctance, and asked impatiently: "Is there something wrong, Comrade Boskrebeshev." ”

"Report to Comrade Stalin," Poskrebshev knew that Stalin had been in a bad mood recently, so he spoke carefully: "Comrade Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, said that there is something urgent and I want to see you immediately. ”

Stalin raised his hand and looked at his watch, it was already two o'clock in the morning on the 7th, he held his mouth and said in a light tone: "Then let him in." ”

After putting down the phone, Stalin closed his eyes and adjusted his mood, and when he heard the sound of someone opening the door, he turned his head to look at the door, and saw Molotov walking towards him with light steps.

Stalin found Molotov's face beaming, and secretly wondered in his heart, saying that the troops were fighting in a mess in the Kursk arc, and what else was there to be happy about?

At this moment, Molotov had already walked up to Stalin and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Stalin. ”

"Hello, Comrade Molotov." Stalin took the initiative to stretch out his hand to the other party: "Is there anything important that you came to see me so late?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Molotov replied with a smile on his face: "I just got good news that needs to be reported to you immediately." ”

"Good news?!" Stalin smiled bitterly and said self-deprecatingly: "At such a time, can we still hear any good news?" ”

Hearing what Stalin said, Molotov knew that he was still worried about the fact that the Battle of Kursk was not going well, and quickly explained: "I have just received a report from the Allies!" ”

"A briefing from the Allies?" Stalin, while filling his pipe, motioned for Molotov to sit down, and asked in a mocking tone: "Are they ready to open a second battlefield?" ”

Molotov hurriedly replied: "The Allied report says: According to the spirit of the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, the Anglo-American forces will carry out a landing operation in Sicily, Italy, on July 10, 1943. ”

Stalin, who had just struck a match, couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, he didn't expect that the Allies would choose to launch a landing operation against the Germans now. The match burned to the end, burning his hand, he hurriedly shook off the match that had not been completely extinguished, and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Molotov, are you sure that what the Allies have told us is true?" ”

Molotov replied without hesitation: "Comrade Stalin, I think that the contents of the Allied bulletin should be true. They can't deceive us about such things, after all, such lies don't last long. ”

Stalin threw the cigarette butt aside, picked up the phone and instructed Poskerebeshev, who was in the office outside: "Get me a map of Sicily." ”

After he put down the phone, he didn't pick up his pipe as usual, but walked around the room with his hands behind his back, and at the same time said in his mouth: "The allies said that they would open up a second battlefield, but they all talked about it for two years, and there was still no shadow." Why did they act so suddenly? It's just unbelievable. ”

Not long after, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. After the door was opened, in addition to Poskorebeshev, there was also Antonov. Antonov took a roll of maps, quickly walked up to Stalin, and said with some breath: "Comrade Stalin, this is the map you wanted." ”

After thanking Antonov, Stalin took the map in his hand, laid it directly on the conference table, and looked down carefully. Antonov was confused by Stalin's move, he turned his head and asked Molotov in a low voice: "Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, what happened, why did Comrade Stalin suddenly want to look at the map of Sicily?" ”

Molotov leaned close to Antonov's ear and said with joy: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, I have good news for you. I have just received a briefing from the Allies that they will carry out a landing operation in Sicily on the 10th of this month. ”

"Landing operations in Sicily?" Antonov's eyes lit up when he heard Molotov say this, and he said in surprise: "In this way, the Germans will not be able to transfer troops from other directions to strengthen the Kursk region." As long as we carry the hardest time through, then the tide of the war will develop in favor of our army. ”

Antonov was so excited that he spoke louder, and even Stalin, who was looking at the map, was alarmed. Stalin raised his head and said to Antonov with a smile: "Our Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, can you tell us what you think about the implementation of the landing operation in Sicily by the Allies?" ”

Antonov walked up to Stalin's side, pointed to the map with his hand, and politely asked: "Is that okay?" After receiving Stalin's permission, he leaned over and looked at the map and expressed his opinion to Stalin: "I think that if the Allies can win the landing operation in Sicily, they will be able to contain a large number of German troops, so that the German troops who are fighting against our army in the Kursk area will not be able to be effectively replenished." Over time, the tide of the battle will turn in favor of our army. ”

"Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff," Stalin asked, looking at Antonov, "do you see whether it is necessary to recall Zhukov and Vasilevsky to Moscow, as well as Rokossovsky and Vatutin, so that they can have a comprehensive understanding of the current world situation, which will also be very beneficial for the next stage of the operation." ”

"Recall Marshal Zhukov and Marshal Vasilevsky to Moscow, I think it is feasible." Antonov replied: "But Rokossovsky and Vatutin, I think it's better to forget it." Now that the fighting in the Kursk region is tense, how can they, as the leaders of the front army who are in charge alone, leave their posts without permission. As soon as he said this, seeing that Stalin's expression was a little unpleasant, he hurriedly added, "But when the two marshals return to the front, they can inform the heads of the front armies of what they know." ”

……

……

Antonov returned to his command and immediately called his comrades Zhukov and Vasilevsky and told them to rush back to Moscow by plane as soon as possible to see the emergency meeting chaired by Stalin.

Vasilevsky had been staying at the headquarters of the Front in Vatutin, and Antonov immediately found him and informed him to return to Moscow by plane as soon as possible.

And looking for Zhukov, there were some minor troubles. Antonov thought that Zhukov was still in the Central Front, so he called Rokossovsky's command directly. As soon as he heard Rokossovsky's voice, he couldn't wait to say: "Is it Comrade Rokossovsky?" I have something important to inform Comrade Marshal, and I ask you to let him answer the phone immediately. ”

Rokossovsky was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Marshal Zhukov is not with me, he went to the Bryansk Front." Do you have anything to do with him? ”

The fact that the Allies are about to carry out a landing operation in Sicily is currently only three people, including Antonov, which is highly classified, so even if his personal relationship with Rokossovsky is good, Antonov did not leak the secret, but said vaguely: "The base camp needs him to rush back to Moscow immediately, and as for what is the matter, I will tell you when he returns." ”

Antonov then dialed the headquarters of the Bryansk Front, where he found Zhukov.

When Zhukov learned that Antonov was looking for him, he couldn't help but ask with some surprise: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, are there anything important that you are in such a hurry to find me?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, 100,000 urgent." Antonov said anxiously: "What is the specific matter, it is inconvenient to say on the phone, you better take a plane back to Moscow as soon as possible." ”

The new commander of the Front, General Popov, waited for Zhukov to put down the phone and asked curiously: "Comrade Marshal, what happened, why is the base camp in such a hurry to recruit you back to Moscow?" ”

Zhukov shook his head and said with a blank expression: "The current situation in the Kursk arc is so bad, but the base camp is calling me and Vasilevsky back to Moscow at this time, I really don't know what it is, it is actually more important than the ongoing campaign." ”

……

It was with such anger that Zhukov returned to Moscow. After entering the Kremlin, he happened to meet Vasilevsky, who had just arrived. After greeting each other, the two walked side by side towards Stalin's office.

On the way, Zhukov asked Vasilevsky: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, do you know what the purpose of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself urgently summoned us back to Moscow?" ”

Vasilevsky smiled bitterly and said: "The person who called me was my deputy Antonov, and I asked him on the phone what important things he had, but he was hesitant and said that he would know when I returned to Moscow." ”

"It's just nonsense." Zhukov said with some dissatisfaction: "Now the battle situation in the Kursk arc area is very unfavorable to our army, and it is not nonsense to call back the representatives of our two base camps at such a time." ”

When the two came to the office, Stalin greeted them and shook hands with them, and said politely: "You have worked hard, and you are in such a hurry to summon you back because something special has happened." ”

"Something special?" Hearing Stalin say this, the two couldn't help but look at each other for a moment, and they both saw confusion in each other's eyes. Zhukov asked curiously: "Comrade Stalin, can I ask about something special?" ”

"Don't be in a hurry, Comrade Zhukov. Please come here. Stalin made a gesture in the direction of the conference table and said: "And you, Comrade Vasilevsky, are also here." ”

Zhukov walked to the conference table, only glanced at the map on the table, his brows could not help but wrinkle, and he asked puzzledly: "Comrade Stalin, how is the map of Sicily?" ”

"I summoned you two back, and it has something to do with this Sicily." Stalin put his hands on the shoulders of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, and said with a smile: "You sit down first, and I will tell you slowly." ”

After Zhukov and the others listened to Stalin's words, the two of them were overjoyed. After looking at the map for a while, Zhukov turned his head to Stalin, who was standing behind him, and said: "Comrade Stalin, the upcoming landing operation in Sicily by the Allied forces will be an important battle carried out by the Allied forces on enemy territory since the outbreak of World War II. If successful, the Allies would not only militarily gain a springboard for a direct attack on Italy, but would also politically shock the already shaken Italian government, leading to the fall of Mussolini and the surrender of Italy, opening the door for the Allies to land in Europe from the south. ”

"Well, Comrade Zhukov, your analysis is very reasonable. Comrade Antonov and I see it this way. After saying this, Stalin lit the butt of his cigarette, took a puff of cigarette, and then asked: "What I am concerned about now is whether the Allied landing operation, once it has begun, will it have any effect on the fighting that is being fought in the Kursk arc?" ”

"It's obvious, Comrade Stalin." As soon as Stalin's words fell, Vasilevsky continued: "As soon as the landing operation begins, a large number of German forces will be pinned down in this area. That is, the German troops, which are currently temporarily superior in the Kursk region, will not receive any reinforcements. When their vital forces are almost depleted, our army will be able to launch a full-scale counteroffensive. ”