Malashenko, who had been fighting fiercely in the purgatory of Stalingrad, never thought about the situation related to Operation Mars that was carried out at the same time, and unconsciously forgot about the disastrous defeat that Zhukov suffered according to the existing historical timeline.
At this moment, it is meaningless to discuss whether Malashenko and the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade participating in Operation Mars will bring different results to Zhukov.
Zhukov, who knew clearly in his heart that Comrade Stalin was giving him a chance, was very grateful. The huge victory in Stalingrad could just cover up the failure of Operation Mars. It can be said that he was extremely lucky that such a huge failure was not held accountable.
After a brief greeting with Zhukov and Vasilevsky, Stalin came to his seat and watched this significant test with his most important military and political confidants.
In order to wait for this moment to arrive, Comrade Stalin, a loving father who likes large-caliber cannons, has been sleeping uneasy for a week.
Stalin originally hoped that the completion of the Soviet-class battleship would satisfy his dream. The 406 mm battleship cannon was already very impressive in the eyes of his loving comrade! Such a cannon would definitely be very powerful!
But when the people below reported that a German super cannon with a diameter of up to 800 mm had been captured outside Stalingrad, Comrade Stalin only gave a very simple reply.
"Find a professional person to use tools to calculate the caliber. Don't report based on visual inspection."
But when the second and even third reports came out with the same result, Comrade Stalin, the fatherly leader of the Soviet Union, was completely confused.
"Transport this super weapon back at all costs. This is of extremely high research value and important significance to us! Send the most capable manpower to complete this task properly!"
With the highest order from his loving father Comrade Stalin, almost all aspects of Vatutin's men were affected, and a considerable number of extra manpower had to be allocated to escort the German prisoners to quickly cut this super weapon into pieces and pack it up.
Transport away.
God knows when the Germans whose lives have been stepped on will frantically send in black planes at all costs in an attempt to blow up this super weapon captured by the Red Army.
Fortunately, during the few days when we were busy dismantling this 800mm cannon, the motherland, as if to protect her people, pulled up thick and dense fog in the sky, and violent rain fell from time to time.
There was a blizzard, and it was impossible for a German plane to come and cause trouble for the Red Army at this time.
The final result is that this 800mm cannon, which was dismantled into dozens of wagons, successfully changed its name and joined the ranks of the great Red Army. In the future, it will devote itself to the just anti-Fascist cause.
the power of.
Zhukov, who sat back on his chair again, quietly looked around him and found that Marshal Timoshenko, Marshal Voroshilov, Khrushchev and others were also present, sitting in the audience attentively.
, this shows the importance of this upcoming weapons test to Comrade Stalin.
"This cannon is so huge, Zhukov! I can't imagine how we can use it properly. To use it well, we must use a very huge force."
Zhukov, who was looking around a little distractedly, noticed that Vasilevsky was talking to him, and then quietly turned around and replied.
"I don't know. I have never seen such a huge artillery, and I never even thought that such a thing existed. But this thing shouldn't be of much use now. I heard that it took half a year just to prepare it.
Months of time, this is too long.”
Zhukov is good at commanding large corps in frontal combat. For him, the key to victory is the rapid coordinated attack of multiple arms, rather than waiting for the extremely time-consuming 800mm cannon to be assembled and slowly opening cans for the Germans one by one.
.
Vasilevsky, who had a very pleasant conversation with Zhukov, first nodded in agreement, and then expressed a slightly different view from his own standpoint.
"The current combat situation is indeed like this, but one day if we invade the German homeland and face the Germans huddled in the city and fight to the death, I think this gun will have its use.
Just like Stalingrad just ended.”
The discussion between Zhukov and Vasilevsky, the conversation between the loving Comrade Stalin and his entourage, and the busyness of the Red Army's special artillery regiment that was busy operating the "Red Stalingrad" after receiving the order to start, everything was happening.
Carry out simultaneously.
And when the "Red Stalingrad" 800mm super-heavy train gun finally slowly raised its 32.48-meter-long majestic tube, all the voices in the audience almost instantly became silent, and the needle dropped.
Audible.
"Yes, okay, I understand, please wait..."
Putting the microphone in his hand temporarily on the wooden table next to the telephone, a major general test commander who was responsible for directing the test operation quickly came to Stalin's side and whispered in a low voice.
"Comrade Stalin, everything is ready, we are just waiting for the final order to fire."
The major general's voice was very low, almost suppressed to the point that only Comrade Stalin and himself could hear it.
But how can any big boss who can be called by his loving comrade to sit in the audience is an ordinary person? Just looking at the action of rushing to report in a low voice immediately after answering the phone, you can guess that at the final moment, only
I'm afraid the final countdown has already begun.
"Are you ready? Zhukov, I feel my heartbeat is speeding up."
Vasilevsky told his true feelings at the moment. He had no reason to lie at this time, and Zhukov responded with the same words in a soft voice.
"Same as you, comrade."
Zhukov couldn't hear what Comrade Stalin said after opening and closing his mouth briefly, but he could get a certain result from the slight nod of his head and the rapid pace of the major general taking the order.
"coming soon!"
Time almost froze at this moment, Zhukov could not hear other sounds, and even the sound of breathing had disappeared from this world, leaving only the secret countdown in his heart that continued.
boom--
A thunderous explosion suddenly came without any warning!
The muzzle fire violently expanded into an umbrella-shaped structure of the "Red Stalingrad", vividly demonstrating its extremely terrifying world-destroying power.
Even at a height of nearly thirty meters, the huge muzzle blast can still sweep up the falling snow on the ground and shake it into the air. The 4.8-ton high-explosive grenade has a muzzle velocity of 820 meters per second.
Roaring and rushing into the distant sky.
With his eyes fixed on the "Red Stalingrad", Zhukov even saw the terrifying movement of the 1,350-ton war machine, which seemed to be violently shaking on the railway track.
Even from a distance of 800 meters, which was considered a safe enough distance, Zhukov could still feel the movement coming from the air and the ground beneath his feet almost simultaneously.
This alone surprised Zhukov, who had thought he was mentally prepared.
"Oh my God, Zhukov! Do you feel it? It's amazing!"