Rokossovsky's attempt to warn the Allies through Stalin was rejected by the Supreme Commander himself without hesitation and was given a lecture. However, he did not feel aggrieved, and if he was in Stalin's position in a different place, he would have to warn his allies just by relying on the unreliable reasoning of his subordinates. If the Germans really attacked, then the other side would naturally be grateful to themselves; If history had been deflected here, and the German Ardennes counterattack had not been launched on time, the allies would have become wary of themselves.

After listening to Rokossovsky's analysis, Zhukov felt that the German army, which was unwilling to lose, would definitely concentrate its forces in a certain direction to launch a counter-assault. However, he ruled out the direction of the Allies, believing instead that the enemy would choose the direction of the assault in his or Konev's defensive zone. Therefore, he spoke with Konev on the phone, urging him to prepare for a possible counter-assault by the Germans.

On December 16, the German counterattack in the Ardennes began. The Allied commanders, who had received the information, dismissed this as nothing more than a harassing attack by the Germans. Fortunately, Eisenhower's mind was relatively clear, he realized that something was wrong, and hurriedly sent two armored divisions to the rescue.

In parallel with the frontal offensive, the Germans also carried out a special operation codenamed "Griffin". More than 200 English-speaking German officers and men led by Colonel Skorzny formed several assault detachments, which changed into US uniforms and boldly penetrated behind US defense lines in US jeeps, attacking US soldiers everywhere, cutting telephone lines, reversing road signs, and laying false mine signs, thus creating chaos in the rear of US troops and endangering everyone.

After being captured, several hapless soldiers were tried by intelligence officers, and they all said in unison: Thousands of people disguised as American troops, blended into the rear of American troops, and carried out sabotage operations.

Erroneous intelligence caused a panic in the US military. In just a few days, tens of thousands of US officers and soldiers were stopped by the military police to answer their strange questions, and if the answers were wrong, they were locked up first.

Just when the American soldiers were panicked and unsettled, another rumor spread that the Germans had sent death squads to kidnap Eisenhower. Convinced by this rumor, the American troops, who had become frightened birds, not only placed barbed wire fences around the Allied High Command, but also parked tanks in front of them, and tripled the number of guards. For those who enter and leave the headquarters, even familiar faces, they must also be repeatedly checked.

On the third day after the Ardennes counterattack began, Stalin received accurate information from the allies. He sat in his place and thought for a long time, secretly annoyed in his heart, and two days ago Rokossovsky reported to himself that according to his analysis, it was possible for the Germans to carry out a large-scale counterattack against the British and American troops in the Ardennes. And he actually chose not to believe him, and even criticized him fiercely. What should I do? Is it to ignore it, or to make a phone call to apologize to Rokossovsky, and by the way, what to do next?

Stalin sat down in his place, finished smoking two pipes, finally picked up the phone in front of him, and when he heard a voice inside, he immediately said: "Pick me up the Second Belorussian Front and find Rokossovsky." ”

The operator heard that it was Stalin's voice, and dared to slack off, and hurriedly said: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, please wait a moment, I will answer the phone for you immediately." ”

Not long after, the phone was connected.

Stalin said into the microphone: "Is it Rokossovsky?" I am Stalin! ”

"Hello, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky guessed that Stalin's call to him at this time must have something to do with the Ardennes counterattack, although he did not hear anything here, Stalin should have been informed by the allies. But he still respectfully asked, "Do you have any instructions?" ”

"Not long ago, I received a call from President Roosevelt that the Germans had carried out a counter-assault on the Allies in the Ardennes two days earlier, inflicting great losses on the Allies." Stalin said carefully: "Do you think that after their victory on the Western Front, they will transfer more troops to the Eastern Front?" ”

"Comrade Stalin, this is impossible." Rokossovsky heard from Stalin's tone that he was a little lost, and hurriedly comforted him and said: "Don't look at the German army that caught the British and American troops by surprise, but their strength has been greatly weakened, not only is there a serious shortage of soldiers and technical equipment, but even logistics and supply problems are also there." As long as the British and American troops carry out a counterattack, the troops wedged into the defensive line of the British and American troops are in danger of being completely annihilated. ”

Stalin solemnly asked: "Do you think it is necessary for us to launch an offensive on the Eastern Front in order to relieve the pressure on the Allies?" ”

"Not yet, Comrade Stalin." When Rokossovsky heard Stalin's question, he was deeply afraid that the other side would be whimsical, so he ordered several fronts facing the Germans to attack in advance, and hurriedly persuaded: "After a long battle, our troops have lost a lot of troops, and their weapons and ammunition have also been greatly consumed. It would be inappropriate for me to attack the Germans in a hasty manner before completing all kinds of supplies. ”

"That's so," Stalin asked thoughtfully, hearing Rokossovsky say this, "then when do you think is the best time to attack the Germans?" ”

Rokossovsky remembered that the Ardennes counterattack carried out by the Germans lasted only a month and ended in failure, so after a deliberate moment of silence, he said to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, I think that to complete all the preparations for the offensive, at least until the end of January next year. ”

"I see, I see, thank you, Comrade Rokossovsky." After Stalin finished the polite words, he hung up the phone.

Bogolyubov, who came in from outside to report to Rokossovsky, vaguely heard a few words of conversation, and as soon as Rokossovsky put down the phone, he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Marshal, did the Germans really carry out a counter-assault on the British and American troops in the Ardennes region?" ”

"Yes, the Germans launched an attack on the Anglo-American troops in the Ardennes." He answered Bogolyubov's question, and without waiting for the other party to ask again, he continued: "The Anglo-American army, under the blows of the German army, suffered a crushing defeat. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's words, Bogolyubov asked with some concern: "Once the German army defeats the British and American troops on the Western Front, won't it be possible to transfer more troops to the Eastern Front and confront us?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is not as bad as you think." Rokossovsky accidentally saw the document in Bogolyubov's hand and hurriedly asked: "Do you have something to do with me?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, there is a document here, which needs to be signed for confirmation." After handing the document in his hand to Rokossovsky, Bogolyubov asked tentatively: "Do you really think that the Germans will not send troops to the Eastern Front after defeating the British and American armies?" ”

Rokossovsky quickly went through the document and, after signing his name on it, said to Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you go and find a map to come in, and I will give you an analysis of the situation." ”

Bogolyubov readily agreed, turned and walked out of Rokossovsky's office. Not long after, he re-entered, followed by Deputy Commander Trubnnikov and Military Commissar Subotin.

When Rokossovsky saw so many people coming, he smiled and said, "There are a lot of people." Then he instructed Bogolyubov, "Chief of Staff, put the map on the conference table." ”

After the map was laid, Rokossovsky walked over, pointed to his deputies and said: "You see, the reason why the German army was able to achieve a rapid breakthrough in the Ardennes cannot be because the American army has deployed too few troops here, and there are even no fortifications to rely on. Therefore, in the early stages of the campaign, they will rapidly advance westward within the Allied defense zone.

But after they have broken through hundreds of kilometers forward, they will no longer be able to continue to advance because of the stubborn resistance of the British and American troops. And at this time, their long supply lines were exposed to the Anglo-American troops on both flanks. The Anglo-American forces had great air power, but due to the bad weather, their air forces could not pose any threat to the Germans. Once the weather improves, the air force, which has a huge advantage, can play a major role. ……”

After listening to Rokossovsky's account, several people all breathed a sigh of relief. Trubnikov still asked with some unease: "Comrade Marshal, in case the Germans throw more reserves into the Ardennes, then their superiority will continue to expand, and the British and American troops, under their powerful blows, will have to continue to retreat......"

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are thinking too much." Rokossovsky did not wait for Trubnikov to finish speaking, and then interrupted his later words: "The Germans carried out a counterattack in the Ardennes area, and they must have thrown all their reserves into it, and their forces and technical equipment are very limited. Once the momentum of the offensive is stopped, then they are not far from defeat. ”

"Comrade Marshal," seeing that Rokossovsky felt that the Ardennes counterattack carried out by the German army would be defeated, Su Bojing couldn't help but ask curiously: "Then how long do you think this battle will last?" ”

"The strength of the German army is depleted, and it is very difficult to replenish technical equipment." Rokossovsky continued: "According to my analysis, the battle, which lasted a month to a month and a half at most, would have ended in a crushing defeat for the Germans. ”

If Rokossovsky had said this a few days ago, everyone would have doubted it. But when they learned that the Germans were really in the Ardennes and had counterattacked the British and American troops, they were convinced of Rokossovsky's analysis.

The discussion here was not over, and Zhukov, who had somehow obtained the German counterattack in the Ardennes, appeared in Rokossovsky's office. Seeing that there were many people in the room, he took off his hat and hung it on the coat rack, strode towards the conference table, and at the same time raised his voice and said: "Hello, comrades commanders! ”

"Hello, Comrade Marshal!" Everyone saw that Zhukov was coming, and hurriedly straightened up and saluted him.

Rokossovsky stepped forward to shake his hand and asked with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, it seems that you have also obtained the information you want to know from a specific channel." ”

"That's right, I came to you when I heard that the Germans had launched a counterattack in the Ardennes and broke through the British and American lines." Zhukov moved out a chair, sat down unceremoniously, and continued: "Last time I listened to your analysis, I also think that the Germans, who are not willing to lose, will do something somewhere. I thought it would be in front of me and Konev's troops, but the Germans were in the Ardennes area of the Western Front, teaching the British and American troops a lesson. ”

"The Germans did a good job of secrecy, so much so that the British and American troops did not receive any information beforehand." After Rokossovsky sat down next to Zhukov, he chatted with him: "It is precisely because of this that at the beginning of the campaign, the British and American troops were defeated. ”

"Tell me," Zhukov picked up a pack of cigarettes on the table, took one out of it, and then asked, "What are the characteristics of this German counterattack?" ”

"I think the tactics they used are still the same as before they attacked our country." The rest of the people saw that Rokossovsky and Zhukov were chatting, and they withdrew with amusement. Rokossovsky got up and poured a cup of hot tea for Zhukov, placed it in front of him, and continued: "It is nothing more than sending a number of command teams that understand English, wearing the uniforms of the British and American troops, to go deep into the rear of the British and American troops, and everywhere to detail the American officers and soldiers, sabotage communication lines, blow up material warehouses, etc., so that the rear of the British and American troops will not be stable, and the main force of the German army will be able to drive straight in." ”

Speaking of this, Rokossovsky also thought of the second action taken by Colonel Skolzny, which was to order all the officers and men of the 150th Armored Brigade to wear American tank uniforms and drive various tanks disguised as American tanks from the northern flank of the battle line to seize the bridge over the Maas River. He added: "If I were to command these assault squads, I would even have formed troops, posing as American troops, directly interspersed with their rear, causing them even more chaos." ”

After hearing this, Zhukov smiled and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I fully believe that you dare to do this. At the beginning of the war, your troops passed through the gaps in the German army and pounced directly on Lublin, taking the German logistics warehouses there, capturing a large amount of weapons and ammunition, so that the German offensive had to be temporarily slowed down. ”

"It won't be long before our German offensive resumes." Rokossovsky said to Zhukov: "The counterattacks of the Germans in the Ardennes and their tactics are worth learning from. ”