"If we want to force a breakthrough of the German defenses, then we will have to pay a huge price. "Rokossovsky saw Lobachev looking at him with a puzzled expression, and then continued: "Comrade Military Commissar, you should understand very well that our army group suffered very heavy losses in the long defensive battles.www.biquge.info Today, there are only 3,000 to 5,000 men left in the infantry divisions, and these soldiers are not all infantry, but also include artillery, engineers, communications troops, and personnel of command organs at all levels. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Lobachev nodded and said with deep sympathy: "That's right, Comrade Commander, in the long-term battles of our group army, not only more than half of the soldiers were killed or wounded, but even the commanders and political workers suffered great losses in the battle. ”

Rokossovsky saw that Malinin was busy and Maximenko was still standing in front of him, so he asked him: "Comrade Colonel, do you say that this order of the German army can also be intercepted by the communications department of the front command?" ”

Maksimenko hesitated for a moment, then replied in an uncertain tone: "Comrade commander, theoretically, the command of the Front should be able to intercept such telegrams. ”

In response to Maksimenko's answer, Rokossovsky frowned slightly, and then said in a stern tone: "Comrade Colonel, what I need is an accurate answer, not ambiguous wording. ”

Maksimenko, who had been rebuked by Rokossovsky, raised his head and replied decisively: "Report to Comrade Commander, I am not sure whether a similar message was intercepted by the communications office of the Front Command. ”

"Since this is the case," Rokossovsky waited for Maksimenko to finish speaking, and immediately ordered: "Colonel, you immediately forward this telegram to the Front Command." Do you understand? ”

"Understood." Maksimenko agreed, took the telegram from Lobachev, turned around and walked back.

When Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to return to him, he pointed to the map and said to him: "Chief of Staff, the situation has changed now, the German high command has just given an order for the troops to stop retreating and turn to the defense on the spot to resist the offensive of our army. Judging from the current situation, the Germans have gathered a large number of troops here in Volokolamsk, ready to resolutely block the offensive of our troops. ”

Malinin tilted his head and looked at the map for a while, and put forward his opinion: "Comrade commander, do you think you can ask General Zhukov to send out the airborne troops and let them attack from the enemy's rear?" ”

"This kind of thinking is unrealistic." Rokossovsky waved his hand and rejected Malinin's proposal: "Our transport planes can only transport one or two companies of troops at a time, and all of them are lightly armed. These airdropped behind enemy lines were simply not able to carry out an effective attack on the Germans due to their limited numbers and lack of heavy weapons. On the contrary, they were in danger of being annihilated after being discovered by the Germans. ”

"What then?" When Malinin heard Rokossovsky say this, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

"It seems that we can only take a step-by-step, steady and steady approach, step by step." Rokossovsky pointed to the map with a pencil and said: "You see, after the capture of Chismena, our troops can regroup here, adjust their forces and then advance to Volokolamsk." At the same time, the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of Dovator was sent to advance to the area of the Ruzha River, detouring back to the right flank of Volokolamsk to cooperate with the frontal attack of our troops. ”

"That's a good idea." After Malinin finished speaking, without waiting for Rokossovsky's instructions, he went directly to call Dovatol.

After more than half an hour, Dovatore, wearing a cylindrical mink military hat and a black cloak, strode into the headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, he excitedly shouted at Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, is there any important task that will be entrusted to our army?" ”

"That's right, General Dovatore, you guessed it, I really have an important task for you." After Rokossovsky and Dovator came to him, he explained the current situation between the enemy and us, and then ordered: "The task of your army is to quickly advance to the Ruzha River, and after breaking through the German defenses along the river, quickly cross the river, bypass Volokolamsk from the north, and cut off the connection between the defenders of the city and the rear. ”

After Rokossovsky finished explaining the task, he saw that Dovator was still looking at the map in front of him with his head down, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade General, are there any difficulties?" ”

Dovator nodded and replied, "After this period of fighting, more than half of our horsemen have been killed, wounded, and frostbitten. If the higher authorities cannot replenish us as soon as possible, most of the commanders and fighters of our army can only be used as infantry. But as a result, the mobility of the troops will be greatly reduced. See if you can talk to your superiors about this and ask them to replenish our horses as soon as possible. ”

In response to his request, Rokossovsky did not immediately express his position, but asked rhetorically: "If your superiors give you horses, how long will you be able to fight?" ”

"It will take a day at the earliest." Dovator was afraid that Rokossovsky would think he was moving too slowly, and he specifically emphasized: "Even if the horses are replenished to the troops, our cavalry warriors and horses still have an adaptation process, otherwise the cooperation on the battlefield will be unsatisfactory." ”

"Understood, understood." Rokossovsky waited for Dovatol to finish speaking, and then said with understanding: "Comrade General, I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I'll get my superiors to replenish our horses as soon as possible. ”

"If that's the case, that's great." After saying this, Dovator politely asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, allow me to go back to the troops?" ”

"Go, go," Rokossovsky waved at him and ordered, "Let the cavalry commanders and fighters take time to rest, so that they can maintain their vigorous combat effectiveness in the next battle." ”

Seeing the back of Dovatol leaving, Lobachev smiled and said with emotion: "What a young and promising commander." I believe that he will be able to command the troops and stab the Germans in the back to relieve the pressure of our frontal attack. ”

Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned when he heard Lobachev say this. Because in his memory, Dovator only appeared during the defense of Moscow, and what happened afterwards is unknown. He frowned and thought: "It seems that the name of Dovaator has never been seen in the list of generals after the victory in the Great Patriotic War, did he die in the war, or did he go to a local job?" ”

Before he could come up with an eyebrow, Zhukov's call came in. Zhukov asked in a cautious tone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, in addition to your 16th Army, several other armies have intercepted similar telegrams. It seems that we have thought too simply, the Germans are not Napoleon, they will not escape from our borders in the ice and snow, so we can only destroy him with weapons in our hands. ”

Hearing Zhukov say this, Rokossovsky immediately thought of Dovatol's request just now, and hurriedly said into the microphone: "By the way, Comrade Zhukov, I just have something to look for you." I wonder if you can add me a thousand to two thousand military horses? ”

"Military horse, what do you want military horses to do?" As soon as Zhukov finished asking this question, he immediately thought of the formation of several cavalry units in Rokossovsky's troops, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, are your military horses intended for the 2nd Guards Cavalry Army of Dovatol?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky immediately said in an affirmative tone: "I have assigned the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps a difficult combat mission, and if there are not enough horses, then this task may be aborted. ”

"What task, let's hear about it." Zhukov commanded in an unquestioning tone.

"Comrade General, that's right." Rokossovsky replied respectfully: "According to our reconnaissance and interrogation of German prisoners, the Germans have amassed a large number of troops in the Volokolamsk area, and if we attack purely from the front, even if we pay a huge price, we may not achieve much success, so I intend to let Dovator's troops detour back to the enemy's rear." ”

"It's easy to get back to the enemy's rear and cut off their supply lines." After listening to Rokossovsky's account, Zhukov said in a relaxed tone: "We only need to airdrop a few airborne brigades in the rear of the enemy to achieve such a goal." ”

"Comrade General," Rokossovsky politely reminded Zhukov after waiting for him to finish, "due to the limited carrying capacity of transport aircraft, even if we airdropped the airborne brigade to the rear of the enemy, we would not be able to provide them with heavy weapons." Units without heavy weapons operating in the rear of the enemy are likely to be annihilated by the enemy. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's analysis, Zhukov couldn't help but ponder. After a long time, he asked, "Tell me about your plans." ”

"I intend to have the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of General Dovator advance towards the Ruzha River, and after breaking through the German lines there, quickly cross the Ruzha River, bypass Volokolamsk from the north, and cut off the enemy's connection with the rear in the city, so as to ensure the smooth progress of our frontal offensive."

"I see, Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." Zhukov said calmly: "Since this is the case, I will not send airborne troops, and I will replenish you with horses as soon as possible, so that you can be engaged in the attack on Volokolamsk as soon as possible." ”

After ending the call with Zhukov, Rokossovsky again instructed Malinin: "Call General Zakharov and General Kazakov and ask them to rush back to the command headquarters overnight, I have important combat tasks to be arranged." ”

"Let General Zakharov return to the headquarters of the army group?" Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Malinin couldn't help but pluck for a moment, and then he reminded: "Comrade Deputy Commander is currently commanding this unit, and the German troops in Kling are holding the city, is it appropriate to transfer him back at such a time?" ”

"There's no way we're going to attack Kling anytime soon, anyway, it's a bit of a waste for him to stay there." Rokossovsky continued: "Just leave a regimental cadre there to command, and let General Zakharov rush back as soon as possible." ”

"That's right, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky immediately said in an affirmative tone: "I have assigned the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps a difficult combat mission, and if there are not enough horses, then this task may be aborted. ”

"What task, let's hear about it." Zhukov commanded in an unquestioning tone.

"Comrade General, that's right." Rokossovsky replied respectfully: "According to our reconnaissance and interrogation of German prisoners, the Germans have amassed a large number of troops in the Volokolamsk area, and if we attack purely from the front, even if we pay a huge price, we may not achieve much success, so I intend to let Dovator's troops detour back to the enemy's rear." ”

"It's easy to get back to the enemy's rear and cut off their supply lines." After listening to Rokossovsky's account, Zhukov said in a relaxed tone: "We only need to airdrop a few airborne brigades in the rear of the enemy to achieve such a goal." ”

"Comrade General," Rokossovsky politely reminded Zhukov after waiting for him to finish, "due to the limited carrying capacity of transport aircraft, even if we airdropped the airborne brigade to the rear of the enemy, we would not be able to provide them with heavy weapons." Units without heavy weapons operating in the rear of the enemy are likely to be annihilated by the enemy. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's analysis, Zhukov couldn't help but ponder. After a long time, he asked, "Tell me about your plans." ”

"I intend to have the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of General Dovator advance towards the Ruzha River, and after breaking through the German lines there, quickly cross the Ruzha River, bypass Volokolamsk from the north, and cut off the enemy's connection with the rear in the city, so as to ensure the smooth progress of our frontal offensive."

"I see, Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." Zhukov said calmly: "Since this is the case, I will not send airborne troops, and I will replenish you with horses as soon as possible, so that you can be engaged in the attack on Volokolamsk as soon as possible." ”

After ending the call with Zhukov, Rokossovsky again instructed Malinin: "Call General Zakharov and General Kazakov and ask them to rush back to the command headquarters overnight, I have important combat tasks to be arranged." ”

"Let General Zakharov return to the headquarters of the army group?" Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Malinin couldn't help but pluck for a moment, and then he reminded: "Comrade Deputy Commander is currently commanding this unit, and the German troops in Kling are holding the city, is it appropriate to transfer him back at such a time?" ”