The Third Reich in Desperation

Also dismissed Zhukov as chief of the general staff?

Although Zhukov took the initiative this time, Stalin understood how bad the impact would be if he really did that.

The removal of Zhukov, who was increasingly expected by people in the Soviet military, was dismissed twice. From anyone's point of view, he felt that Stalin was fatuous and ignorant.

"Please calm down," Stalin did not choose to reprimand Zhukov this time, but said with a rare temper: "Besides...if you ask the question like this...we will be without you... ..."

Having said that, Stalin stopped talking.

It was Zhukov who spoke next.

"As a soldier, I am always ready to implement any decision of the Supreme Command. But I have my own views on the situation and the method of combat, and I believe that this view is correct. And I will do what I and the General Staff think. report."

Stalin did not interrupt Zhukov, who had calmed down.When he summoned Zhukov back, he had already thought that this might happen.

Thinking about another Pavlov who bowed to him but was unable to win battles, Stalin suddenly felt that Zhukov, whose opinions often conflicted with his, seemed to be able to do it.

He said softly to Laikov: "Go back to work, we will study it right away and call you later."

When he heard this, Zhukov put away the map and left the office with a heavy heart.

He knew that although Stalin did not reprimand him, he did not support him either.From this point of view, the plan to abandon Kiev should be impossible to implement.

After about half an hour, Zhukov was called back to Stalin.

"We discussed it," Stalin said to the returned Zhukov: "The High Command has decided to dismiss you as chief of the general staff again, but this is because we want you to take on practical work. It is agreed that you have The practical experience of commanding troops will definitely play a greater role in combat troops."

At the end, Stalin did not forget to add: "Of course, Comrade Zhukov, you are still a member of the Deputy People's Commissar of National Defense and the Supreme Command, so there is no need to worry about that."

It seemed that Stalin was neither happy to send Zhukov to Siberia nor willing to listen to his suggestion.Therefore, I chose a method of retaining Zhukov's vacant position, contacting his actual position as chief of staff, and then sending him to the front line as a pawn.

"Where did you order me to go?" Zhukov didn't care about this. Instead of letting him stay in the headquarters to fight Stalin every day, arguing about the battle plan, and the two sides chattered endlessly without any conclusions, it would be better to let him go to the front line. A frontline commander.

In this way, it may be a good decision for him and Stalin.

"Where do you want to work?" Although Zhukov was driven away, Stalin was no longer as merciless as last time.

"I can work anywhere, drive a tank or command a front army, an army group, an army, or even a division." Zhukov no longer accepts Stalin's love.

"Well, Comrade Zhukov. You just said that you are going to organize a counterattack in Yernia, so I ask you to take charge of this matter. I will order the Rzhev-Vyazma defense line. The army and group armies are all unified as the reserve front army, and you will be the commander of the reserve front army.”

"Look, when can you leave?" Stalin couldn't wait to send Zhukov to a place where he could not see but where Zhukov's ability could be used again.

"I need to bring some documents and materials, as well as the deduction plan I made, and I can pack it up in about an hour." Zhukov replied without a trace of expression.

"Okay, let Shaposhnikov take over your job. Please note that you are still a member of the Supreme Command. Also, in name, you are still the chief of the general staff of our army to the outside world."

In the end, Stalin still did not forget to play tricks on the surface.He didn't want others to accuse him of driving Zhukov away, so he wanted to reserve a relatively large vacant position for Zhukov at all, so that he could appear to be magnanimous in employing people.

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"So, you just came to us and joined me?"

In the joint headquarters of the Western Front and the Reserve Front, Timoshenko chatted with Zhukov with a wry smile.

He originally thought that when Zhukov came here, Stalin suddenly woke up and realized that Moscow was in danger, and he needed to rely heavily on military strategists like Zhukov to turn the tide.

Although Timoshenko is not much less famous than Zhukov, he knows that the "victorious battles" he fought are far from the battles Zhukov fought.

He thinks that he is not at most a good general, but Zhukov is definitely a great handsome talent!

It's a pity that Stalin didn't seem to realize this.

Sending Zhukov to lead troops to the Western Front was just to drive away Zhukov and try to be quiet.

"Forget it, I heard that your attack on Yernia encountered SS troops and suffered heavy losses." Zhukov didn't seem to want to talk about what he experienced in Moscow, but only focused on talking with Timoshenko. : "Let's study carefully now, how to spend two long months with these so-called Germany's most elite troops..."

Southwest Front Army Command.

Kirponos received a renewed order from the Kremlin.

Moreover, when this order came, it was still a double order!

One, stick to Kiev, and all troops are not allowed to retreat across the Dnieper River.

Second, cut off the connection between the German 1st Armored Group and the Infantry Corps, and attack the flanks of the enemy's Panzer Corps.

Kirponos tore up the order telegram from Moscow on the spot.

Another impossible task!

However, now that the high command has made a decision, they can only be prepared to defend Kiev to the death. Even if they lose it in the end, it will take a while to consume more German forces.

As for the order to attack the German armored forces, it is better to wait for Stalin to attack alone in his dream.

"Notify the ministries, garrison on the spot, strengthen or build new fortifications." Kirponos sent a telegram to his officers: "The most difficult days have come..."

Text 778 Reckless Germans

Although the Soviet army in the city was dizzy under the violent bombardment of Italian bombers, it also caused inevitable losses to the Spanish and German officers and soldiers who rushed into the city.

The air force units sent by the Italian Expeditionary Force had no directionality at all when they arrived over the city. They quickly bombed and unloaded all the explosives they carried. Keep throwing bombs.

"Frank! Let our people find a place to hide!" Lieutenant Lentup of the German teaching battalion company shouted at Second Lieutenant Frank: "It seems that the Italian bombers are coming, but they are blind, even us and Spain Everyone is going to explode!"

"My platoon has taken cover!" Frank was also very alert, and immediately replied loudly to Rutup, who was only less than ten meters away from him: "Although we can't stop the Italian bombs, at least Able to avoid being hit by debris!"

"Boom!" A bomb happened to explode on a building on the right side of the two, and the huge explosion made both of them startled.

It's dangerous!If the Italian bomber that dropped the bomb had dropped the bomb on the building next door, or if they had shaken their hands a little when they dropped the bomb, it is estimated that the Italians would have achieved the record of killing two German officers.

You know, if the Soviets wanted to kill two German officers of this level on the land battlefield, they would have an average of about 100 casualties.

The Italian bombers are still dropping bombs. It seems that the bombs they carry this time seem to be very sufficient.

This put Lieutenant Luntup under a lot of pressure for a while: "Damn, the advance was going well, but it was all because the Italian bombing was disrupted. Now I can't contact the people in other companies, and the battalion commander doesn't know where he is!"

Not to mention establishing contact with other companies in the training camp, Luntep can't even find all the soldiers in his own company now.

At the beginning, they were able to maintain the coordinated operations of the various platoons, but from the second the Italian bombers started bombing, everything was in chaos.

The first to lose contact were the Spanish tank soldiers.At the beginning of the bombing, they were confused and rushed towards the unknown street.

Then, because of the need to find some cover and prevent excessive casualties from bombing, the German teaching battalion had to be dispersed to reduce the losses after being hit by bombs.