"What? Six new tanks can deal with a tank regiment of the German army? Rokossovsky's face showed an expression of disbelief, and if he hadn't known anything about me, he would have retorted a long time ago.

"That's right, Comrade Rokossovsky." Stalin stood up at this time and expressed his support for me: "What Leda said is true. Our newly developed tank is an invincible existence for Deko. ”

Although Stalin, out of secrecy, did not tell Rokossovsky that these new tanks were built under the guidance of later engineers, Rokossovsky was overjoyed. He excitedly calculated the armored strength of both the enemy and the enemy: "Six can be a tank regiment of the opposing German army, and if the troops of our Central Front can be equipped with one hundred and twenty tanks, even if the results of the battle are discounted, then at least they can deal with thousands of tanks of the German army." ……”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, you rejoiced too soon." Stalin suddenly poured cold water on the somewhat carried away Rokossovsky: "With our existing production process and steelmaking technology, we cannot mass-produce the special steel required for the new tank for the time being. That is, it is completely unfeasible for our troops to be equipped with new tanks in the near future. ”

Stalin's words not only surprised Rokossovsky, but even I was surprised, I did not expect that after the new tank was manufactured, it would not be possible to assemble troops on a large scale because of the lack of special steel, so in the next Battle of Kursk, the new tank would not have a chance to show its might.

"But, Comrade Stalin. I have one more question. "Rokossovsky lost his mind for a moment. Soon it was back to normal. He respectfully asked: "When will the tank corps to which our front belongs be able to get the tanks that are replenished to them?" ”

Hearing this, Stalin thought for a moment and replied: "I think that it will be until mid-June at the earliest, and your Central Front will be replenished with tanks and other technical equipment." ”

"Comrade Stalin, I beg your pardon." After listening to Stalin's answer, Rokossovsky said: "Between Kharkov and Kursk, almost all of them are plains, which is very conducive to the large-scale mechanized assault of the German army. If we don't have enough armor to contend with it. In the face of hundreds of German tanks, we simply could not stop it. ”

Stalin was tolerant of Rokossovsky's complaints, and after taking a puff of his cigarette, he said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, although the base camp is temporarily unable to provide enough tanks for the Central Front, there are other means of defense against the German tanks. A series of lessons learned from the war tell us that the success or failure of anti-tank combat is the key to countering the German offensive. The reason why our army was completely defeated by the German army in the early days of the war was precisely because of the lack of anti-tank warfare. They were first routed by German tanks, and then surrounded and annihilated by the large number of German infantry that followed. ”

"Comrade Stalin. I wonder what kind of defensive measures we should take in response to a possible large-scale armored assault by the Germans? Rokossovsky said worriedly: "Even if we have one or two hundred kilometers of defensive depth, in the face of the surprise attack of German tanks, our defense will seem to be inadequate." ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, don't worry." Stalin said slowly: "Although the base camp does not provide enough tanks for your front for the time being, there are other means of defense. For example, the bazooka that is being mass-produced or the assault rifle that is about to be installed in the army. There is also an anti-tank trench. As he spoke, he told Rokossovsky about the length, width and height of the "Golan trench" that I had reported.

After listening to this, Rokossovsky groaned slightly, and still asked in disbelief: "Comrade Stalin, the anti-tank trench you mentioned sounds like a very powerful one, but I don't know how effective it can be in actual combat. ”

Stalin pointed his pipe-holding hand at me and said: "After the introduction of this new type of anti-tank trench, the detachment led by Comrade Ustinov specially tested it. From the report he handed me this morning, it can be seen that even the most powerful German armored forces have no way to do anything in front of such an anti-tank trench. Since this anti-tank trench was developed by Leda, I suggest that it be named after her surname, 'Oshanina Trench'! ”

Stalin's words frightened me so much that I almost sat on the ground. What was originally an anti-tank trench named after the Israeli Minister of Defense turned out to be an anti-tank trench named after myself.

After a short silence, Stalin smiled again and said, "Lida, I wonder if you are interested in commanding a front army alone?" If you so wish, I can consider appointing you as the commander of the newly formed Reserve Front, deployed northeast of Kursk, as a reserve for the Central Front and the Voronezh Front. ”

Although Stalin himself said this, I can only assume that he was ridiculing and joking. I don't have enough seniority and prestige in the army, and if I want to take charge of the overall situation in a certain direction, I will definitely attract a lot of opposition, and besides, I don't have the experience to command the overall situation, so I can't do it well at all.

I was self-aware and knew that I was not fit to be a commander on my own, so I truthfully reported to Stalin: "Thank you, Comrade Stalin, for your kindness. However, judging from the current situation, my ability is limited, and I am not able to serve as the commander of the newly formed front army for the time being, so please choose someone else. ”

For my answer, Stalin seems to have been prepared for a long time. After listening to this, he did not make any comments, but called me and Rokossovsky to the table, pointed to the map on it and said: "Look at this map, and I will tell you about the new deployment of troops."

The Western Front will be deployed near Kaluga, and in addition to the 11th Army, which will hold Kaluga, the rest of the 10th Army, the 50th Army, the 1st Guards Army, the 61st Army, and the 1st Air Force Army will be mainly responsible for the defense of the Oka River basin. Monitor the German Army Group Center located in the Bryansk and Orel regions.

And by the 4th Guards Army, the 3rd Guards Tank Army, the 3rd Infantry Army, the 63rd Army. and the Bryansk Front, formed by the 15th Army of the Air Force. Will be responsible for the flank defense of the Western Front.

Next, your Central Front and Vatutin's Voronezh Front, which will be tasked with building enough depth of defense in the Kursk region to withstand a possible German attack. ”

Before concluding his speech, Stalin asked a specific question: "Comrade Rokossovsky, do you really think that we are not fit to strike back against the German army at this time?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Hearing Stalin's question, Rokossovsky immediately replied without hesitation: "Due to the fact that the weather is getting warmer at the moment." The roads were muddy due to the snow, which led to poor supply of troops, and many of the troops were exhausted after a long battle. If, in this case, a counterattack against the Germans is hastily launched, I see no hope of success. ”

After Rokossovsky's words, Stalin said thoughtfully: "So far, with the exception of Vatutin and Khrushchev, both Zhukov and Vasilevsky have strongly requested me. Do not rush into a counterattack against the Germans in the current situation. so as not to consume the elite troops that have been accumulated with great difficulty. ”

"Absolutely right, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky heard what Stalin wanted to say, and hurriedly chimed in: "So I suggest that our troops temporarily stay in the existing defensive zone and build fortifications. Wait until we have consumed a lot of the enemy's strength in the defense before launching a final counterattack. ”

After Rokossovsky finished speaking, Stalin walked to the telephone not far away, picked up the phone and dialed a number. After a while, I heard him asking, "Hey, is it Comrade Zhukov?" Did you receive any information about the enemy? ”

Because the room was very quiet, even though I was still four or five meters away from Stalin, I could still hear the sound in the earpiece, and Zhukov replied slowly: "Yes, Comrade Stalin, I have just received a reconnaissance report from the Voronezh Front. ”

"Send someone to me at once." Stalin commanded briefly.

Zhukov hurriedly replied: "Comrade Stalin, I have sent someone to send you the latest information, I believe you will see it soon." ”

Almost at the same time, there was another knock at the door, and then Poskorebeshev, with a piece of paper in his hand, walked briskly to Stalin's side, and then stood motionless.

Stalin glanced at him and said into the microphone: "Comrade Zhukov, I think it should be the information you sent has arrived, and I will contact you after I finish reading it." With that, he hung up the phone.

Stalin took the piece of paper from Poskorebeshev's hand, looked at it for a few moments, and his brow furrowed. After reading it, he slowly walked up to us, handed the paper to Rokossovsky, and said in a flat tone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, look at this latest information. ”

When Rokossovsky was reading the intelligence, I couldn't help but tilt my head to see what was written on it, which could make Stalin's expression so serious. If you don't look at it, you will be shocked into a cold sweat. I saw that it read:

"At present, the enemies of the Voronezh Front are:

1. There are 9 infantry divisions on the front line (26th, 68th, 323rd, 75th, 255th, 57th, 332nd, 167th and 1 division with unknown number). These divisions occupied the defense on the lines of the village of Red October, Veliky Chernetchyna, Krasnopolye, Kazatkoye. The division, whose number is unknown, according to the prisoners' confessions, was to the Sordatskoye region and changed shifts with the 332nd Infantry Division.

The above information is being verified. There is also unconfirmed information that the enemy has 6 infantry divisions in the second echelon. The location of these divisions has not yet been ascertained, and this information is being verified. According to radio reconnaissance, in the Kharkov region there is 1 Hungarian division headquarters. It is possible that the division was transferred to a secondary direction.

2. At the moment the enemy has a total of 6 tank divisions ('Grande German', 'Adolf. Hitler', 'Skeleton', 'Reich', 6th and 11th Tank Divisions), 3 of which were in the first line and 3 ('Big German', 6th and 11th Tank Divisions) were in the second. According to radio reconnaissance intelligence, the headquarters of the enemy's 17th Tank Division was relocated from Alekseevsky to Tashagovka. This indicates that the 1st Tank Division is moving northward. Judging by the existing forces, it is possible that the enemy will transfer three additional tank divisions from the South-Western Front to the Belgorod region.

3. Thus, it is expected that the enemy may form an assault group of 10 tank divisions and at least 6 infantry divisions in front of Voronezh. The cluster will have a total of 1,500 tanks and is expected to be concentrated in the Borisovka, Belgorod, Murom and Kazachialopan regions. The assault group is likely to be supported by a powerful aviation force of about 500 bombers and at least 300 fighter sails.

The enemy's attempt was to carry out a centripetal assault from the Belgorod region to the northeast and from the Orel region to the southeast, in order to encircle our troops west of the Belgorod and Kursk lines.

After that, it is expected that the enemy will carry out a surprise attack on the flank and rear of our Southwestern Front in the southeast, so as to ensure that the battle will be carried out in the northern direction in the future.

However, the possibility cannot be ruled out that during this year the enemy will abandon the plan to attack to the southeast, and will attack to the northeast after completing the centripetal assault carried out by the Belgorod and Oryol regions, in order to make a detour to Moscow. This possibility should be anticipated and reserves prepared accordingly. ”

And while Rokossovsky and I were looking at the intelligence, Stalin picked up the phone again. Just listen to him and say: "Comrade Zhukov, what do you think about the information provided by Vatutin and Khrushchev? ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov said in a steady tone: "We should ask the commanders and fighters of the Central Front and the Voronezh Front to hurry up and urgently build strong fortifications in the Kolsk direction to prevent a possible attack by the Germans." ”

After Stalin waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, he asked in a polite tone: "When do you estimate that the German offensive will begin?" ”

"Judging by the current situation, the enemy is not ready for a large-scale offensive at the moment. The offensive is expected to take place no earlier than 20 April this year, but possibly in early May. After saying his analysis, perhaps in order to boost Stalin's confidence, Zhukov also deliberately emphasized: "The troops of General Rybalko who occupied Kiev will also contain some of the German troops' strength and technical equipment, so that they will have to take longer to prepare for the attack." ”

Stalin sighed and said with some unwillingness: "Comrade Zhukov, you are correct in your analysis of the enemy's situation. Under the present circumstances, we really should not rashly launch a counterattack against the German army, lest the troops that have been accumulated with great difficulty be lost in vain in a hopeless counterattack. As you say, all the troops were on the defensive, ready for the upcoming German offensive. (To be continued......)