After two more days of futile fighting near the Don, Vatutin finally aroused Stalin's displeasure. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 During the 10-day offensive, the Voronezh Front achieved nothing but a small landing ground on the west bank of the Don River, and instead caused more than 30,000 casualties.

Stalin called Vatutin and asked unceremoniously: "Comrade Vatutin, I would like to ask you, when will your troops arrive under the city of Voronezh?" ”

It was the first time that Vatutin had heard Stalin speak to himself in such a stern tone, and replied with some panic: "Comrade Stalin, give me two more days, and my troops will definitely reach the city of Voronezh." I have ordered the troops of the 38th Army to launch a diversionary attack from the west bank of the Don to attract enemy forces and relieve the pressure on the landing sites. ”

In response to Vatutin's justification, Stalin said dissatisfiedly: "Enough, Comrade Vatutin, you don't need to say any more. I now order you to immediately stop the fighting on the west bank of the Don and move to the defense on the spot. ”

"But Comrade Stalin," Vatutin said unwillingly, "if we go on the defensive now, we may lose our ...... at the landing ground, which we have paid for the blood and lives of thousands of commanders and fighters."

"If you continue to put your troops into the landing field, it will cause more casualties to our commanders and fighters." Stalin said in a stern tone: "Since we do not have the ability to expand the landing ground, then there is no need to fight the German army here." Leaving a small force to hold the landing ground, the main forces were withdrawn to the east bank of the Don River, and turned to the defense on the spot. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Seeing that Stalin had already made the final decision, Vatutin could only honestly say: "I immediately ordered the troops to stop the offensive and retreat to the eastern bank and go on the defensive." ”

As soon as Vatutin put down the phone, he instructed the new chief of staff, General Katukov: "Comrade General, give an order to the troops that are fighting at the front and tell them to stop the offensive. At the landing ground on the west bank, except for one company of troops left to hold on, the rest of the troops should be withdrawn to the east bank in an orderly manner and transferred to the defense on the spot. ”

"Comrade commander," Kazakov was stunned when he heard this order from Vatutin. It took a long time for him to cautiously remind Vatutin: "We have made so many sacrifices to build the landing field, and we really gave it up like this?" ”

"It's not to give up, it's to withdraw the main forces." Vatutin also figured out the reasons why Stalin ordered him to retreat, and explained to Kazakov: "The landing ground we have established in the West Bank is too small, and the Germans have air supremacy, and the number of artillery and tanks far exceeds ours, and we simply cannot afford to expand the landing field." If you continue to fight, you can only consume more living force there in vain. ”

Speaking of this, he stopped, looked at the map hanging on the wall, sighed, and ordered Kazakov: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, it is the will of the Supreme Commander himself to let the main forces retreat and turn to the defense on the spot on the east bank." You just do it! ”

Hearing that it was Stalin's personal order, Kazakov gave up his intention to continue persuasion, turned around and sent a telegram to the troops still fighting in the West Bank, telling them to withdraw as soon as possible.

Not long after Stalin finished his call with Vatutin, the Chief of the General Staff, Vasilevsky, hurried in and reported to him: "Comrade Stalin, the situation in the Stalingrad direction is bad, Paulus's troops have approached the outskirts of the city from the north and northwest. ”

Stalin waited for Vasilevsky to finish speaking, and immediately walked quickly to the conference table and leaned over to look at the large map spread out on it. After looking at it for a while, he raised his head and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I have the idea that the Stalingrad front should be divided into two fronts, from Kresgaya to the Volga, which should be called the Don front; …… for the Stalingrad Line.

The main task of the Stalingrad Line was the direct defense of the city, and on the Don Front, its tasks would be much broader. In addition to constantly striking at the enemy on the perimeter, when the time comes, cooperate with the defenders to annihilate the enemy. ……”

After describing the functions of the new Don defense line to be built, Stalin asked Vasilevsky: "If we were to form the Don Front, who do you think would be the most appropriate commander for this?" ”

"Rokossovsky," Hearing Stalin's question, Vasilevsky replied without hesitation: "Comrade Stalin, I think Comrade Rokossovsky is the best candidate for the commander of the Front. ”

"Now that we are on the same page, it's time to ask the parties." As he spoke, Stalin walked to his desk, picked up the phone on the desk, dialed a number, and said to the operator: "Pick me up from the Bryansk Front Command and find Rokossovsky." ”

After the phone was connected, Stalin smiled into the microphone and asked: "Hello, Konstantin Konstantinovich!" What's your situation there? ”

Hearing that it was Stalin's call, Rokossovsky's heart beat suddenly, and he secretly said in his heart: Does he think that it is not enough for me to send two tank corps to reinforce Stalingrad, and more armored troops are needed? After preparing to send the 16th tank army, which had just been put together, to Stalingrad, he said: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, we are calm here, there is no fighting. ”

"Oh, the front is calm?" Stalin was a little surprised and said: "That is, you did not have a firefight with the enemy?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky replied with some panic: "We are calm here, and the enemy is not moving at all. ”

"The enemy didn't move at all." After Stalin said this, he suddenly laughed, "Comrade Rokossovsky, I know that you are an idle person, and if you continue like this, you will definitely get sick." How, have you ever thought about going to a lively place to move your body? ”

"To the bustling place?" When Rokossovsky heard this, he muttered to himself: "The most lively place now is Stalingrad, and it seems that you are going to send me there." ”

So he knowingly asked: "Comrade Stalin, I don't know which front you plan to send me to?" ”

"Stalingrad!" Stalin's answer, as expected, was expected. Stalin said in a kind tone: "We intend to divide the original Stalin Line into the Stalin Line and the Don Line, and intend to appoint you as the commander of the newly formed Don Front, I don't know what you think?" ”

Although Rokossovsky had long known that he would be appointed commander of the Don Front, he still pretended to be embarrassed and said: "Comrade Stalin, this matter is really unexpected, can you let me think about it?" ”

"Yes," Stalin readily agreed, "I will give you a day to think about it, and give me a final answer by this time tomorrow at the latest." If you are willing to take up this position, I will send a plane to pick you up. ”