According to Rokossovsky's idea, the counterattack against the Germans was best done at the tank cemetery. Because www.biquge.info the outpost of the 99th Infantry Division was less than 200 meters away from the nearest German position, as long as the defenders could be suppressed by artillery fire, the troops who launched the attack could rush into the enemy's trenches in less than a minute.

However, when he proposed this idea to Malinovsky, the latter shook his head and said: "Comrade commander, you do not know, the enemy has realized that it was a great mistake to allow our troops to build defenses in tank graveyards, and now they are already trying to correct it. Not only did they bombard our concealed positions with artillery fire, but they also used flamethrowers to attack our firing points under the wreckage of the tanks. In less than two days, our line had to retreat two hundred meters. ”

Seeing the solemn expression on Rokossovsky's face, Malinovsky continued: "On the German heights in front of the tank cemetery, the front is 1,100 meters wide and 700 meters deep, and the enemy has built four trenches here, connected by communication trenches. There were at least ten to twenty civil and engineering fire points in each trench, and our troops were bound to pay huge casualties if they were to completely occupy this place. ”

After waiting for Malinovsky to finish, Malinin asked: "Comrade Malinovsky, according to your latest reconnaissance results, how many troops have the Germans deployed on the high ground and in the rear?" ”

Malinovsky thought for a moment and replied: "According to our latest reconnaissance report, the Germans deployed two companies of troops on the heights, and two kilometers behind the heights, they also deployed an infantry battalion reinforced with tank companies. ”

When Kirichenko heard this, he couldn't help but interject and ask: "Comrade General, I want to ask, how many troops has been deployed in this area by the 99th Infantry Division?" ”

"They deployed a battalion in the tank graveyard." Malinovsky, who did not know what Kirichenko's purpose was, suddenly asked these questions, but he answered truthfully: "And on the position behind the cemetery, there is a regimental headquarters with two battalions. ”

After listening to the data reported by Malinovsky, Kirichenko turned his head to look at Rokossovsky, who was sitting on the side, and said confidently: "Comrade commander, I think we have the full strength to launch an active attack on the enemy in this area of a tank graveyard and achieve the final victory." ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, why do you say that?" Rokossovsky, who was struggling to think about countermeasures, couldn't help but ask in surprise after hearing Kirichchenko say this: "Do you have any good idea?" ”

"Although I don't know much about military affairs, I also understand that what determines victory or defeat on the battlefield, whether it is weapons and equipment, the more important factor is people." Kirichenko said eloquently: "Even if the 99th Infantry Division is not reinforced with reinforcements, with one regiment that they are now deployed in this area, there is no problem in eliminating one battalion of the German army and bringing two battalions." ”

After listening to Kirichenko's rhetoric, Rokossovsky was really a little laughing and crying. He nodded at Malinin next to him, and motioned for the chief of staff to give an explanation to Kirichenko, who did not understand military affairs, and correct the low-level common-sense problems he had committed.

Malinin nodded in understanding, then stood up and said to Kirichenko: "I'm sorry, Comrade Military Commissar, I think it is necessary for me to explain to you the difference between the establishment of the enemy and the enemy. A company of the Germans had more than 200 men, while a battalion had almost a thousand men. As for us, even at full strength, there are only more than 100 people in a company, and there are only more than 400 people in the whole battalion. After a long battle, and without timely replenishment, we had only thirty men left in each company, and less than two hundred in one battalion. ”

"Ah, that's all there is to it." After listening to Malinin's introduction, Kirichenko quickly calculated the strength of both sides in his heart, and said in surprise: "The strength of one of our regiments is not as much as that of a battalion of the German army?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." Ma Lining nodded and said helplessly: "This is indeed the case. If we were to break through this German defensive zone and inflict heavy damage or annihilation on them, we would have to use at least one division to barely achieve our offensive objectives. ”

However, in order to carry out the orders of the base camp, launch an offensive against the enemy north of Stalingrad, and make an attempt to join up with Chuikov's 62nd Army, Rokossovsky will nevertheless realize the battle plan drawn up and explain it to Malinovsky.

After listening to the task, Malinovsky had an embarrassed expression on his face, he looked left and right, and said cautiously: "Comrade commander, can I talk to you alone?" ”

Rokossovsky felt that Malinovsky must have his own opinion on this attack, but it was inconvenient to say it in front of others, so he made this request, so he only thought about it for a moment, and then agreed to this request without hesitation. He shook his head at the other party and said, "General Malinovsky, let's go, I'll send you out, if you have anything to say, we can talk slowly on the road." ”

The two walked out of the headquarters and came to the empty parking lot. Seeing that the guards who came out with him were all standing a dozen paces away, Malinovsky spoke: "Comrade commander, I am very unoptimistic about this attack. Perhaps to prevent Rokossovsky from interrupting his later words, he quickened his speech, "I advise you not to replenish our base camp with all seven divisions and use them in this hopeless counterattack, for that would only consume them in vain." ”

Malinovsky, after saying this quickly, stared nervously at Rokossovsky, waiting for his thunderous fury. After waiting for a long time, he only saw Rokossovsky nodding lightly and asked lightly: "Comrade Malinovsky, did you say that you want to talk to me alone about this matter?" ”

Rokossovsky's calm attitude surprised Malinovsky, and he thought that his opinion would be regarded as panicked, and he would attract a scolding from the thunderous Rokossovsky, but now he couldn't help but hesitate when he saw that the other party seemed to be clear.

After repeating his question, Rokossovsky did not wait for Malinovsky to speak, and said to himself: "Comrade Malinovsky, don't say it's you, even I, I am not optimistic about this attack. Okay, now that you've made your mission clear, then you'll go back and prepare quickly, as for how to arrange the new troops, that's my business, so you don't have to worry about it. ”