After talking to several army commanders who had participated in the first round of the offensive, Zhukov received the same report: the troops met only weak resistance when attacking the German positions, broke through the German lines in front of them at a very small cost, and advanced several miles. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

According to these battle reports, combined with Rokossovsky's separate report, Zhukov confirmed that it was the sudden severe cold that caused the German army to freeze to death and frostbite on a large scale, resulting in a great reduction in the combat effectiveness of the troops, so that the Soviet army was able to successfully seize some positions that were originally planned to be captured in a few days in more than an hour.

He dialed the Kremlin in Moscow with the high-frequency telephone on his desk, and after hearing the voice of Stalin's secretary Pos Krebeshev, he immediately said politely: "Hello, Pos Krebeshev, is Comrade Stalin still in office?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Zhukov." When Boskrebeshev heard that it was Zhukov's voice, he quickly got up from his seat, straightened his back and replied respectfully: "Comrade Stalin has been staying up late to work these days. ”

"Please get through to him, I have good news for him!"

"Great, Comrade Zhukov." Hearing Zhukov say that he had good news to tell Stalin, Bosk Klebeshev was also overjoyed, and he smiled and said to the microphone: "I believe that your news will definitely make the Supreme Commander himself happy." Please wait a moment, and I will answer Comrade Stalin's phone for you right away. ”

Stalin, who was working at his desk, heard the phone ringing on the desk, grabbed a headset and put it to his ear, and asked in his voice with a Georgian accent: "Hey, I'm Stalin, where are you?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov, trying to keep his tone calm, reported: "I am reporting to you on the counteroffensive. ”

When Stalin heard Zhukov say this, he was silent for a moment, and then said preconceptively: "Comrade Zhukov, the counteroffensive launched by the Kalinin Front in the early hours of yesterday morning was also stubbornly resisted by the German army at the beginning, and the situation on the battlefield only changed with the dispatch of our army's aviation after dawn. Is your situation the same as Konev's yesterday? ”

"No, Comrade Stalin." When Zhukov heard that Stalin had guessed wrong, he hurriedly defended: "I called you, not to report bad news, on the contrary, to report good news to you." After more than an hour of fighting, our first round of troops had completed the objectives of the first day of the campaign, successfully occupying the German positions in front of them and advancing the front to the German-occupied areas. ”

"What, Comrade Zhukov, what did you just say, please say it again?" When Stalin heard Zhukov say this, he couldn't help but be taken aback and asked tentatively: "Are you saying that our troops, after more than an hour of fighting, managed to occupy positions that would take a day or even a few days to capture?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Stalin, that's exactly what happened." Zhukov replied cheerfully: "Our troops have successfully occupied the first and second lines of defense of the German army on the front, and some units have even occupied the third line of defense of the German army, such as Rokossovsky's. ”

After Stalin waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, he was silent for a moment, and then said in surprise: "Comrade Zhukov, such a result is very gratifying. Can you tell me why our troops have been able to achieve such great results in such a short period of time? ”

"It's easy, because it's cold." Zhukov explained to Stalin: "The sudden drop in temperature froze to death in the trenches of the Germans, who lacked sufficient supplies for the winter, so that we were able to achieve such great results with our offensive." ”

"That's right, Comrade Zhukov, as soon as you say this, I will understand everything." Stalin knew that in the Russian winter, a sudden drop in temperature was commonplace, and it was normal for Germans who were not prepared for the winter to freeze to death because of the sudden drop in temperature. When he then asked Zhukov, his mentality also changed imperceptibly: "Comrade Zhukov, do you think that if we throw all our troops into battle at such a time, we will be able to drive the enemy to the Dnieper in a week or even less?" ”

Zhukov did not expect Stalin to suddenly have such a whimsical idea, and hurriedly persuaded him: "Comrade Stalin, the reason why our army has been able to achieve such great results at present is that the severe cold of Russia has helped us a lot. But in the next battle, we may not be so lucky again. ”

Stalin was confused by Zhukov's statement, and he asked puzzled: "Why?" ”

"The fortifications we have captured so far are all improvised fortifications built by the Germans after breaking through our defensive lines, and there is a lack of sufficient shelter or firepower, so the soldiers can only stay in the unsheltered trenches and endure the torture of the bitter cold." In order to prevent Stalin from giving unrealistic orders for battle, Zhukov felt compelled to explain to him the actual situation at the front: "If our front pushes any further, we will encounter the German army, which is stuck in strong fortifications and a well-established defensive system. You must know that these fortifications were built by us to resist the German attack, and no matter if all kinds of fortifications are complete, and there are enough warm facilities, the Germans who stay in these areas will suffer much less damage. ”

While Zhukov was trying to convince Stalin not to make the hot-headed mistake, the same thing was happening in Rokossovsky's command. The succession of victories at the Lialovo and Istrian reservoirs certainly raised the morale of the troops, but at the same time made some commanders hot-headed.

The deputy commander of the army group, Zakharov, excitedly said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, since the current situation is very favorable to our army, I suggest that we should launch a full-scale attack on the enemy's defense zone. ”

Rokossovsky stared at him, smiled bitterly, and asked rhetorically: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't know where you plan to launch a full-scale attack?" ”

"Does that need to be said?" Rokossovsky's words surprised Zakharov a little, and he said in surprise: "Comrade commander, the soldiers are very fast, since our progress is so smooth, then it is time to take advantage of the victory and pursue and retake all the places occupied by the Germans." For example, Kling, Cumbre del Sol, ......," he said, pointing with his finger on the map.

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Rokossovsky said euphemistically about his overconfidence: "Don't look at our progress in the early stage, but the next battle will not be easy to fight." "Don't forget that on the outskirts of these cities, although there are only improvised fortifications hastily built by the Germans, the Germans are not fools, and if they perceive that the weather is too cold, they will retreat into the city and use their houses as fortifications to stop our attack." Our attacking forces now have no artillery and tank cover, and even if they attack these cities, they will not be able to regain them from the enemy's hands, but will cause heavy casualties. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Zakharov, who knew that he had simplified the problem, blushed and asked: "Comrade commander, then what should we do next?" ”

"The troops continue to maintain an offensive posture," Rokossovsky began to order, pointing to the map: "In the event of stubborn German resistance, the attacking forces should immediately stop attacking and turn to the defensive." Wait until after dawn when our air force fighters appear and can provide us with air support, and then attack them. ”

Rokossovsky knew that the reason why Zakharov was in a hurry to achieve results was because the two cities of Klin and Sun Hill City were lost from his hands, and he also wanted to use the opportunity of the great counteroffensive to recapture the city from the enemy's hands as soon as possible. So instead of reproaching him, he continued: "At present, except for the troops in the main direction of attack, the rest of the troops continue to focus on defense, trying to cut off the retreat of the enemy forces that have penetrated deep into the heart of our army. As long as the enemy's living forces are consumed on a large scale, we will be able to fight more easily in the next counterattack battle. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." From Rokossovsky's words, Zakharov heard that the other party was saving face for himself, so he hurriedly said: "I will faithfully carry out your orders." ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said to Zakharov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I think you should return to the Kling area as soon as possible, unify the command of the troops in that area, and wait for the right time to launch an attack on the city and drive the Germans out of our city." ”

After Zakharov left, Rokossovsky sent Maksimenko to the command of the 9th Guards Division, and he wanted to find out about the movements of the German troops in the direction of the Istrian reservoir. Unexpectedly, it was Beloborodov's chief of staff who answered the phone, and he replied that Comrade Comrade Division Commander personally directed the troops to launch an attack on the enemy's positions.

After listening to the words of the chief of staff, Rokossovsky immediately became angry: "Hell, has this Belorodov forgotten that he is the division commander?" How could he casually leave his headquarters and lead his troops to charge like a company commander? Chief of Staff, I order you to send someone to retrieve him at once, and tell him that his post is in the division headquarters, and that if he does not have my permission again, he will lead the troops to charge, and I will be careful to deal with him. ”

"Comrade Commander, who are you angry at?" Rokossovsky finished the phone call and was about to put down the microphone when he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him: "If you talk like this, you will frighten the commanders below." ”

Rokossovsky said in his heart Who is talking so casually, turned around and just wanted to reprimand the other party, but unexpectedly found that the person standing behind him was actually Dovatore, who was sent to the rear military hospital for treatment. He hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed the other party's arm and asked with concern, "Dovatore, how are your injuries, have they all healed?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Dovatol replied with a smile, "all right. No, I heard that the great counteroffensive was about to begin, and the commander of the cavalry corps was not doing much, so he pestered the director of the military hospital to arrange a car for me to send me back here overnight. ”

"Great, Dovatore, it's great."

Rokossovsky knew that the reason why Zakharov was in a hurry to achieve results was because the two cities of Klin and Sun Hill City were lost from his hands, and he also wanted to use the opportunity of the great counteroffensive to recapture the city from the enemy's hands as soon as possible. So instead of reproaching him, he continued: "At present, except for the troops in the main direction of attack, the rest of the troops continue to focus on defense, trying to cut off the retreat of the enemy forces that have penetrated deep into the heart of our army. As long as the enemy's living forces are consumed on a large scale, we will be able to fight more easily in the next counterattack battle. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." From Rokossovsky's words, Zakharov heard that the other party was saving face for himself, so he hurriedly said: "I will faithfully carry out your orders." ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said to Zakharov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I think you should return to the Kling area as soon as possible, unify the command of the troops in that area, and wait for the right time to launch an attack on the city and drive the Germans out of our city." ”

After Zakharov left, Rokossovsky sent Maksimenko to the command of the 9th Guards Division, and he wanted to find out about the movements of the German troops in the direction of the Istrian reservoir. Unexpectedly, it was Beloborodov's chief of staff who answered the phone, and he replied that Comrade Comrade Division Commander personally directed the troops to launch an attack on the enemy's positions.

After listening to the words of the chief of staff, Rokossovsky immediately became angry: "Hell, has this Belorodov forgotten that he is the division commander?" How could he casually leave his headquarters and lead his troops to charge like a company commander? Chief of Staff, I order you to send someone to retrieve him at once, and tell him that his post is in the division headquarters, and that if he does not have my permission again, he will lead the troops to charge, and I will be careful to deal with him. ”

"Comrade Commander, who are you angry at?" Rokossovsky finished the phone call and was about to put down the microphone when he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him: "If you talk like this, you will frighten the commanders below." ”

Rokossovsky said in his heart Who is talking so casually, turned around and just wanted to reprimand the other party, but unexpectedly found that the person standing behind him was actually Dovatore, who was sent to the rear military hospital for treatment. He hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed the other party's arm and asked with concern, "Dovatore, how are your injuries, have they all healed?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Dovatol replied with a smile, "all right. No, I heard that the great counteroffensive was about to begin, and the commander of the cavalry corps was not doing much, so he pestered the director of the military hospital to arrange a car for me to send me back here overnight. ”

"Great, Dovatore, it's great."