Just as the troops of the 16th Army were encroaching on the German defense line little by little and slowly advancing westward, they received a special order from Zhukov: Before the 17th of this month, the troops should build sufficient shelters in the existing defense area and be ready to go on the defensive. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Seeing this order, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned, he shook the order in his hand, and asked Lobachev, Zakharov and Malinin, who were sitting around the table: "Comrade commanders, do you know why Zhukov gave such an inexplicable order? ”

Zakharov's right hand fingers were split, holding his chin, and said thoughtfully: "Although we have lost a lot of soldiers and consumed a lot of ammunition and materials in the offensive during this period, there is not much problem in continuing to maintain the offensive." It is incomprehensible why the command of the Front gave us such an order. ”

After thinking for a while, Chief of Staff Malinin saw that he had no clue, so he suggested to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, instead of us guessing here, it is better to call and ask General Zhukov and see what he has to say." ”

"Well, I'll call and ask Comrade General personally." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he instructed the chief of communications, Maksimenko: "Colonel, please give me the command of the front and find Zhukov." ”

After the phone was connected, Rokossovsky turned into the microphone and asked: "Comrade Zhukov, I don't understand, why did you suddenly give such an order?" ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Zhukov said unceremoniously on the phone, "as a commander, you should not only think about the war, but also pay more attention to the weather. ”

"Weather?" Zhukov's brainless words made Rokossovsky confused, and he asked puzzledly: "I don't know what your order to stop the offensive has to do with the weather?" ”

"You should know that the counteroffensive we carried out this time has achieved a lot of results, thanks to the cold weather in Russia." It was rare for Zhukov to explain to Rokossovsky with such patience: "The Germans, having simply not expected that the war would last until winter, did not produce army winter clothes before the war, and there were no reserves in strategic rear warehouses. By the time it was discovered that a large amount of winter clothing was needed at the front line and transportation began, it was already too late.

According to the information obtained from the reconnaissance and interrogation of the German prisoners, due to the shortage of winter clothes and the shortage of quantity, all the units of the German army sent a large number of transport teams to wait at the airport. As soon as the transport plane stopped, the convoys swarmed up, snatched the winter clothes from the plane, and even shot each other for it. But even so, the winter clothes transported from the rear could not meet the needs of their troops, and because of the lack of winter clothes, batch after batch of German officers and soldiers were frozen to death and frozen in the snow. ”

After hearing Zhukov's words, Rokossovsky seemed to understand, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade Zhukov, listening to what you say, I seem to understand something, and the order you gave must have something to do with the severe cold weather." ”

"That's right." Seeing that Rokossovsky guessed his intentions, Zhukov nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "According to the latest news from the meteorological station, on the 17th of this month, that is, tomorrow, there will be a sharp drop in temperature, which will probably drop to about minus 50 degrees. ”

"-50 degrees!" When he heard this temperature, Rokossovsky couldn't help but shiver, in such a low temperature, if he didn't stay indoors, no matter how thick he was, he would be in danger of freezing to death and frostbite, so he hurriedly replied: "Understood, Comrade Zhukov, we will immediately order the troops to suspend the offensive and build fortifications on the spot." ”

As soon as he put down the phone, he ordered Malinin: "Chief of Staff, immediately inform all units to temporarily suspend the attack on the German positions, establish a defense in the same place, build as many shelters as possible, and do a good job of keeping warm." ”

"Comrade Commander, may I ask, what is going on?" Ma Linin asked with a blank expression.

"According to the notice of the meteorological observatory, there will be a large area of temperature plummeting tomorrow, and the minimum temperature may reach minus 50 degrees." Rokossovsky told Malinin with a serious expression: "Chief of Staff, when you give the order, you must ask all units to do a good job of keeping warm from the cold and strive to reduce the non-combat attrition caused by the severe cold. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, I'm going to give orders to the troops." After Ma Linin finished speaking, he got up and walked to the walkie-talkie, preparing to issue this special order to the troops under the group army.