"Tell me about the current situation of Malashenko and Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division. Comrade Vatutin. Stalin has always been thinking about this unit named after him, and specifically asked me to inquire about it this time.
Understand the situation."
Since the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, Malashenko has been working under Vatutin.
First, in Kursk, Vatutin called Comrade Stalin on the back of an ox and forced him to be under his command. On the southern front of Kursk, he beat the brains out of the dog with the Germans.
Then came the Battle of Cherkasy, and the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division was reorganized under Vatutin's 1st Ukrainian Front and participated in the battle as the most elite division-level tank unit of the entire front.
Zhukov, who had not used Malashenko and his troops for a long time, was also thinking about it. This Red Army tank hero, whom he single-handedly promoted as a Bole, has achieved too many legendary achievements so far.
Regarding Malashenko, there is another small episode that makes Zhukov find it quite interesting and a little surprising now that he thinks about it.
Here's what happened...
Not long ago, the Supreme Command in Moscow held a regular meeting to discuss the recent frontline battle situation and the Red Army's next action strategy. Naturally, the people attending the meeting were all big names, including Zhukov, Vasilevsky, and Voroshilov.
Everyone gathered at the scene, and the person presiding over the meeting was Comrade Stalin, our supreme leader.
What surprised Zhukov was that Khrushchev, a somewhat untouchable guy, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was actually allowed to attend the meeting by Comrade Stalin.
Since the Red Army's war has been progressing smoothly in recent times, this regular meeting of the Supreme Command was held in a relaxed atmosphere.
When the meeting was about to end, Khrushchev, who had eaten too much corn on the cob and had nothing to do, suddenly asked for the floor and proposed something about hero selection to Comrade Stalin.
It is said that Comrade Katukov is good at commanding tank troops to defeat the enemy from the front and has achieved many results. Comrade Katukov should be awarded a Hero of the Soviet Union medal and informed to the entire army to boost morale and serve as an example.
It would be useful in breaking down the enemy's resistance, and Khrushchev claimed that the Red Army now needed a dose of heroism to boost morale.
This matter could have been discussed privately after the meeting, but since the atmosphere at this meeting was relatively relaxed, there was nothing urgent and urgent for everyone to talk about. So when Khrushchev brought this up
When the matter was brought up, no one expressed any objection and everyone thought about it. Many people even agreed with Khrushchev's idea and felt that it should be publicized again.
But what no one expected was that our loving father, Comrade Stalin, held the cigarette butt in his hand, shook his beard while puffing away the smoke, and then opened his mouth to express his different thoughts.
"I think the idea of establishing a heroic image for publicity and encouragement is acceptable. I agree and support it. But Comrade Khrushchev, don't you think that if a commander and combatant from the tank unit is selected for publicity and portrayal, there will be others who will be better than Kaiser
Is Comrade Tukov more suitable?"
"Well......"
Khrushchev was so embarrassed when he was asked such a rhetorical question on the spot by his loving comrade. He was caught off guard and momentarily put off the stage. He was very embarrassed and spent a long time thinking about what to say.
With Khrushchev's IQ, he could not fail to understand Stalin's words, and he quickly understood who the person Comrade Stalin was hinting at was.
But to be honest, Khrushchev had never negotiated with this person, especially the last time he met him, he didn't even say hello. Although it may be that he didn't see him or he was in an emergency and didn't take care of it, but Khrushchev
However, Xiaofu never thought about recommending this person to Comrade Stalin from beginning to end. Why should he say good things to him when he had no relationship with him at all?
I never thought that this man actually still had some weight in the eyes of Comrade Stalin, but now he had stolen the chicken but made it difficult for him to get off the stage.
Who among the high-ranking figures who often hang out on the streets of Moscow would not know that Comrade Stalin's rhetorical questions are particularly difficult to answer. If you say this incorrectly, you will get into trouble. Not everyone has Zhukov's arrogant qualifications to quarrel with Comrade Stalin.
"Uh... Comrade Stalin, I... I'm just a suggestion, a suggestion. You see, Comrade Katukov also fought bravely and is a role model, right? Of course, he is a little worse than Comrade Malashenko.
I was negligent and did not consider this for a while. Next time I will think more clearly before speaking, I will definitely do so."
When Khrushchev said this, he looked a little nervous and even distracted. He was afraid that he would get into trouble if he said something wrong. The whole way he sat there was quite funny. On the other hand, Comrade Stalin sat there without saying a word.
He held his cigarette butt and listened quietly.
Such a scene made Zhukov want to laugh a little. He guessed that Khrushchev wanted to take the opportunity to express himself and make good suggestions so that Comrade Stalin could praise him. Unexpectedly, this flattery hit the horse.
On his legs, the suggestions he made were completely contrary to Comrade Stalin's ideas and were very different.
"Comrade Stalin has always cared about the division named after him, and Malashenko by the way. It's just that some people just returned to Moscow and didn't know about it."
Taking advantage of Comrade Stalin's opportunity to look through the important documents just sent by his secretary and being blocked from view, Vasilevsky, who was sitting next to Zhukov, whispered something into his friend's ear. Zhukov, with a slight smile on his face, said:
He nodded slightly in response without saying much, and seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
Malashenko, whom he single-handedly promoted, has caught the eye of Comrade Stalin, which is also good for Zhukov himself, who has a keen eye for talents.
"Well, in that case, let's continue this meeting here first."
"Zhukov, before you return to the front line, draft a commendation message and prepare it for notification to the entire army. Vatutin called me yesterday to tell me that Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division went deep into the enemy's rear alone, causing chaos in the enemy's rear and destroying a large number of enemies.
The elite troops and supporting troops played a very important role in the smooth advancement of the Cherkasy Battle, which is very good!"
"We must give corresponding awards and honors to front-line commanders and fighters who have shouldered important responsibilities and performed outstandingly! The war to defend the motherland and the Soviet Union has reached a critical turning point. At this time, the heroic fighting of all the Red Army is even more needed."
"I hope you can bring the spirit of this meeting back to the army and to the front line. The Red Army needs more outstanding front-line commanders and fighters like Comrade Malashenko."