Red Moscow

  Chapter 365 Delayed Attack

According to the order of the Supreme Command, the 1st Guards Army under the command of Moskarenko must first attack the German 16th Armored Division, 3rd and 60th Armored Divisions that rushed to the Volga River in the Znoye area in the early morning of the 2nd. The motorized infantry division carried out a counter-assault and joined the 62nd Army in the direction of the city. Kozlov's 24th Army and Malinovsky's 66th Army would counterattack the Germans and drive them from the area after the friendly forces had joined forces.

In later generations, there was a group of ignorant people who posted nonsense on the Internet, saying that Stalingrad had no strategic significance at all. The reason why the German army attacked this city was to threaten the Soviet army standing in the Caucasus from the flank. Well, the Soviet army doesn't have to fight the German army to the death here.

  When Sokov saw these posts at the time, he wanted to vomit that these people had noodle bumps on their faces. They didn't understand the military and political significance of the Battle of Stalingrad at all. If Stalingrad fell into enemy hands, the German army would cut off the southern and central parts of the Soviet Union. At the same time, the Soviet Union will also lose the Volga River, the most important waterway transportation lifeline, which transports a large amount of supplies northward from the Volga coast and the Caucasus region. It is precisely because of this that the Soviet Supreme Command will send all possible forces to the Stalingrad area.

After Zhukov accepted the order to organize a counter-offensive, he immediately rushed to the participating troops to understand the situation, but when he found that the troops were not ready for a counter-attack, he called Stalin himself and reported his opinion to him: "... the artillery needed The artillery shells will not be delivered to the artillery positions until after the 4th. Comrade Stalin, I strongly suggest that the time for the counterattack be postponed, and the date of the offensive be postponed to September 6th.”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Stalin said angrily: "Comrade Zhukov, do you think that the enemy will wait for you to prepare slowly before launching an attack on Stalingrad? ... Yeremenko concluded that if you do not immediately Assault from the north. The enemy can take Stalingrad with the first onslaught. You should attack immediately and find a way to drive the enemy away from the vicinity of Stalingrad. If successful, you can eliminate the German army. A Volga corridor..."

   "Comrade Stalin, if there are not enough shells, the artillery will not be able to provide the necessary artillery cover for our troops when they attack..."

However, before Zhukov finished speaking, he was interrupted by Stalin: "Without artillery cover, don't our troops know how to attack? Comrade Zhukov, don't forget that when we had no artillery support, we still fought against the enemy. Destroyed the Cossack White Guards of General Krasnov who attacked Tsaritsyn. Since we were able to defeat the enemy back then, why can’t we defeat the enemy with a stronger army today?”

Seeing that Stalin mentioned the battle that took place here more than 20 years ago, Zhukov knew that if he continued to argue, he would only achieve his own goal, so he could only choose to submit: "Understood, Comrade Stalin. To carry out a counter-assault against the enemy north of Stalingrad within the given time."

Since the 1st Guards Army was the main force of this attack, Zhukov specifically called Moskalenko after finishing his conversation with Stalin, and asked in a stern tone: "General Moskalenko, the Supreme Command The attack time set for us is 5 o'clock in the morning on September 2, can your group army enter the attack position on time?"

   "Don't worry, Comrade General." After listening to Zhukov's words, Moskalenko said solemnly: "The troops of our army group promise to launch an attack on the enemy within the specified time."

However, the plan could not keep up with the changes, and there were only four hours left before the offensive began. When Zhukov heard that the 1st Guards Army had not entered the designated position, he quickly called Moskalenko and asked angrily: " Where is your unit now, Moskalenko?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Moskarenko replied in a panic: "Due to the lack of fuel in the vehicles transporting troops and the delay caused by the bad road conditions, we were unable to enter the starting position at the stipulated time. In order not to As a result of the disorganized entry of troops into battle, and unnecessary losses as a result, I request that the attack be postponed."

  Although Zhukov wanted to shoot Moskalenko dead in his heart, considering the imminent battle, he suppressed his anger and asked, "Then when will you be able to enter the starting position?"

  Regarding Zhukov's question, Moskalenko was silent for a moment, and said cautiously: "Comrade General, judging from the current situation, the troops will not be able to enter the designated position until this evening at the earliest."

  Since the troops can only enter the designated location in the evening, it means that the counter-assault originally planned today cannot be carried out. Although Zhukov was furious, there was nothing he could do. He could only sigh and say into the microphone: "Since this is the case, then change the attack time to 5:00 am on September 3. If your troops are still unable to If you participate in the attack, then you will be court-martialed."

   Facing Zhukov's threat, Moskalenko couldn't help but trembled, and hurriedly replied: "Comrade general, please rest assured, I assure you that our troops will be able to launch the attack on time tomorrow."

  Since the attack time of the 1st Guards Army, which is the main attacker, has been delayed, the attack time of the other two armies also needs to be adjusted accordingly. Then, Zhukov called Kozlov and Malinovsky respectively, informing them that the attack time had been changed to September 5th.

   The postponement of the offensive, Zhukov could not conceal and not report it, otherwise, once Stalin pursued it, even if he was the deputy commander in chief, he would also be to blame. So Zhukov dialed the Kremlin host, and after hearing the sweet voice of the female operator, he said in a low voice: "I am General Zhukov, please take me to Comrade Stalin's office."

   "Hello, Comrade General." The female operator said respectfully: "Please wait a moment, I will connect you right away."

After the call was connected, the person who answered the phone was Poskrebyshev, who said politely to Zhukov: "I'm sorry, Comrade Zhukov, Comrade Stalin is resting. If there is nothing important, I can't wake you up at this time." he."

   "Comrade Poskrebyshev, please tell Comrade Stalin." Zhukov hesitated for a moment, and finally he mustered up the courage to say: "The planned attack has been postponed!"

  (end of this chapter)