Rokossovsky roughly counted that there were more than a hundred tanks in this tank cemetery, of which the Soviet army had a slightly larger number. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info He pointed forward with his hand and asked Malinovsky: "Comrade General, since there are so many destroyed tanks here, what measures have you taken?" ”

Malinovsky was confused by Rokossovsky's question, he turned his head to look at Kryuchokin next to him, and saw that the other party was also confused, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, I don't understand what you mean, can you explain in detail?" ”

"The wreckage of the tanks is not far from your position, not only blocking your view, but also when the Germans attack, they can also use the cover of these tank wreckage to quietly touch your position." Rokossovsky said with a blank face: "In order to strengthen the defense, didn't you think about using the wreckage of these tanks?" ”

After figuring out what Rokossovsky wanted to express, Kryzyogin shook his head and said: "Comrade commander, we also wanted the comrades of the repair shop to drag away all the wreckage of the tanks in front of the position, repair those that can be repaired, and return those that cannot be repaired. However, this area is within the range of German artillery fire, and several armored tractors sent by the repair shop yesterday were destroyed by German artillery fire. Lo and behold, there it is. ”

Rokossovsky looked in the direction of Krychokin's finger, and sure enough, in the middle of the wreckage of the tank, he saw two destroyed armored tractors, and next to the body blackened by the fire, lying several corpses, which should have been sacrificed repair shop workers.

Rokossovsky sighed softly in his heart, and then said: "Since we can't clean up the wreckage of these tanks, then we have to find a way to use them." He turned and instructed Malinovsky, "You immediately organize your men to inspect these tanks and see if you can collect some weapons that can still be used." In addition, in the direction of the German positions, you can dig trenches next to the burned tanks, turn the inactive tanks into difficult points of fire, and push our defensive lines as far as possible into the German defensive positions. ”

"Wonderful, that's wonderful." Regarding Rokossovsky's arrangement, Malinovsky applauded again and again, and immediately said: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will immediately transfer two battalions over, according to your command, collect weapons that can still be used in the wreckage of the tank, and at the same time build fortifications on the side facing the Germans." ”

On the way back to the headquarters of the Front, Zhertov said with emotion: "Comrade commander, you are really amazing. Since the outbreak of the war, I have worked with many commanders, but the one who is as capable as you is the first. I saw the dense wreckage of the tanks at that time, and I also thought that the enemy might use these obstacles to sneak up near our positions and launch a surprise attack on us. However, I racked my brains and did not come up with any good solution, I did not expect you to come up with such a brilliant solution, which not only stabilized the position of our army, but also pushed the defensive position forward under the nose of the enemy. ”

Rokossovsky only smiled faintly at Zheltov's compliment, and then said: "Judging from the situation of the enemy and us, the position of the 66th Army is the shortest route for us to join the 62nd Army of Chuikov, so we must do everything possible to resolutely hold and consolidate this position." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's mention of Stalingrad, Zheltov's expression darkened, and he let out a long sigh and said: "According to the recent battle reports, the 62nd and 64th armies that are holding on to the city are not in good shape. In particular, Chuikov's 62nd Army, which was now cut into north and south by the German siege forces, was really worried that they would be driven into the Volga by the Germans. ”

"Don't worry, my comrade military commissar." Rokossovsky, who knew the final outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad, after listening to Zheltov's concerns, said with confidence: "No matter how fierce the enemy's attack is, I am confident that our commanders and fighters will be able to hold Stalingrad." Even if the enemy gains the upper hand for a while, we will be able to defeat them sooner or later. ”

Glancing at the driver who was driving, and seeing that the other party was driving with full attention, and did not seem to notice the conversation between himself and Rokossovsky, he cautiously asked: "Comrade commander, do you really think that our troops will be able to hold Stalingrad?" Just like last year's Kiev, everyone thought that it could be defended, and the base camp even concentrated all the troops that could be concentrated in this area, but it suffered an unprecedented defeat. ”

"That's right, I think our troops can hold Stalingrad." Rokossovsky said in a firm tone: "If the Germans had taken Stalingrad, then they would have cut off Moscow from Central Asia, and then our capital would be in danger of falling." It is for this reason that we all have to hold Stalingrad anyway. ”

Speaking of this, he paused slightly, looked at Zhertov and asked, "I have such confidence, do you have it?" ”

Zheltov hesitated only for a moment, and then said decisively: "Needless to say, Comrade Commander, I also think that our troops will be able to hold Stalingrad no matter how difficult the situation is." ”

Rokossovsky saw from the other party's somewhat flustered eyes that what he said was insincere, but he didn't want his military commissar to be put into a separate book because of a few words, so he pretended to be confused and said: "Since we all have the confidence to defeat the German army, I believe that it will not be long before the enemy besieging Stalingrad will be completely crushed by our army." ”

Although Rokossovsky knew that the Battle of Stalingrad ended with the victory of the Soviet Army and the defeat of the German Army, he did not wait passively, and as soon as he returned to the headquarters of the Front Army, he issued combat orders to the troops of the various army groups, ordering everyone to seize the appropriate fighters while defending, and launch an attack on the enemy in front of them, disrupting the offensive deployment of the German army.

After Rokossovsky introduced the active defensive measures, the various units of the Front launched one attack after another in different areas, so that the Germans were so confused that many of their offensive plans had to be adjusted, so that they could not move more troops into the city.

For the positive actions taken by the Don Front, the base camp was specially commended. However, it is regrettable that Rokossovsky's troops and technical equipment did not have any advantage over the German army, and he could not effectively improve the bad situation in Stalingrad. Therefore, the base camp began to plan to strengthen the newly reconstituted Southwestern Front in order to further effectively disperse the German forces.