As the new Chief of General Staff of the Red Army who succeeded Zhukov, Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was resourceful and approachable, had sufficient grasp of the front line and macro judgment.
This veteran Red Army veteran is very good at discerning the superficial truth behind the scenes. Marshal Shaposhnikov, who often analyzes and communicates with Zhukov on battle situations, is always able to make accurate predictions about the frontline situation and give advice.
Stalin provides the most reliable and trustworthy advice.
But the problem that Stalin presented to Marshal Shaposhnikov was not so easy to solve. The two reports that Stalin had just pointed at made Marshal Shaposhnikov frown slightly on the table.
"The intelligence line stationed in Berlin sent news that the Germans are preparing to launch a bold and resolute offensive on the Eastern Front again, no less massive than last year's invasion offensive. After all German troops on the front have been fully replenished,
They will all be mobilized, and the more reliable time for the attack to start is around mid-April to early May this year."
The intelligence sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs strengthened Stalin's determination to strike first and prepare in advance. This was the most obvious thing before him.
As for the other report, it was first-hand information that had just been received by the National Defense Committee, and even Stalin himself had just read it.
"Different from the center assault during the Winter War, this year's main assault direction of the German army is determined to be on the southern front. It is roughly guessed that it will first break through Rostov, then advance to Stalingrad and the Caucasus region, and finally march towards the Caspian Sea. Caucasus
The Germans have always been determined to win the oil fields in the region, which is no small matter."
From the perspective of future generations, the authenticity of the two reports put on the table by Stalin at this moment is unquestionable. It must be said that the Soviet intelligence department is indeed very capable. The famous Sorge may be the most powerful person in the Soviet intelligence department.
A bright red star, but not necessarily the strongest one.
It was March and the frontline battlefields were exceptionally peaceful.
The Soviet army, which was holding on for its last breath, had already exhausted its counterattack energy to launch an attack from under the capital city. It was now trying its best to use the last remaining time on hand to replenish its troops and prepare for the upcoming battle this year.
On the other hand, the German army also survived the most exhausting winter. They found a quiet place to lick their wounds and rest quietly, accumulating attack energy and waiting to recover as before.
At the moment, the Soviet Union and Germany's army preparations for war are just a matter of lice on a bald man's head. A larger-scale fierce and bloody battle is about to come after the winter snow melts.
Shaposhnikov guessed that after experiencing the setbacks of the Winter War, the Germans would not be able to launch a large-scale attack to surround the siege on three sides and put the Soviet army in danger like they did in the previous Battle of Moscow.
But are the contents mentioned in the report before us reliable? Which route will the Germans choose as their main attack direction? When, where and with what force will they attack the Soviet army?
Too many complex questions lingered in Marshal Shaposhnikov's mind. As the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, he even asked himself that he could not give Stalin a responsible, accurate and reliable answer and advice.
After the cruel year of 1941, Marshal Shaposhnikov, as a responsible and qualified chief of staff, could no longer give Stalin any clear answer in a few words.
When Marshal Shaposhnikov slowly shook his head after being lost in thought, Comrade Stalin, who was in a very good mood, was rarely angry but nodded slowly and seriously.
Since one could not make up his mind, Stalin decided to immediately hold a meeting of the High Command regarding the summer offensive in advance.
Two days later, a large number of Soviet generals attended this important meeting, including Kotin’s father-in-law, Marshal Voroshilov, Marshal Timoshenko, and Marshal Shaposhnikov. Feng Chen
Among the servants, General Zhukov, who had rushed back anxiously from the front line, was also present, as was General Vasilevsky, director of the Operations Department of the Red Army General Staff Headquarters.
Marshal Shaposhnikov, who was chosen by Stalin as the commentator, took the lead in explaining the overall strategic situation of the front line to the generals present, and then spoke of the very important final conclusion.
"After combining various intelligence analyses, the General Staff believes that the German army will continue to launch assaults on the central front in the direction of Moss during the summer operations."
It is not so much that Marshal Shaposhnikov and the General Staff thought so, but rather that the somewhat arbitrary and loving Comrade Stalin himself made such a hasty conclusion.
From the perspective of a politician considering the upcoming summer campaign, Stalin did not fully agree with the strategic intention of the German army to launch an assault on the southern front given by the intelligence agency.
With Moscow already on the verge of defeat, Stalin judged that the hungry Hitler would once again command his puppet lackeys, the Fascist army, and continue to attack the heart of the entire Soviet Union.
His mind was always thinking about what Malashenko had confided to him a few days ago. Zhukov, who felt that the situation was developing in a very bad direction, began to think about the content of his upcoming speech.
"Okay, comrades, after listening to Marshal Shaposhnikov's explanation, what do you think now? You can speak freely. For example, our next action should be to maintain defense or to use offense instead of defense.
."
Stalin's personal subjective idea was undoubtedly to take the initiative and launch a counterattack, but his mentality as a superior still made him want to listen to the thoughts of his generals.
Zhukov, who was a little confused in his head, hardly paid attention to the speeches of the marshals and generals in front of him. When the right to speak was transferred to Zhukov and it was his turn to speak, Zhukov, who was still thinking about how to persuade Stalin, almost turned a deaf ear.
Didn't respond.
"I advocate defense, Comrade Stalin."
Completely opposite to the content of Marshal Timoshenko's speech, Zhukov, who had a very clear judgment on the war situation, chose the most negative approach in Stalin's view.
"Based on my recent inspections on the front line, I think the German army has now recovered from the winter setback! However, our army has suffered a great loss in terms of manpower and technical equipment, and it needs time to replenish and recuperate. Added
The weather is gradually getting warmer, and after the muddy road period is over, it will soon become conducive for the German army to launch an offensive. In the next stage, I suggest that our army adopt a strategic defensive posture..."
Before Zhukov could finish his words, a roar from Stalin forcibly interrupted his speech.
"Comrade Zhukov! I must remind you! We are now determining the summer operation plan. We cannot be too passive and conservative, otherwise we will lose all the advantages gained in the winter war! We must launch a comprehensive counterattack based on local defense to destroy the Germans
Their offensive deployment disrupted their position, and only in this way can they completely seize the initiative on the battlefield!"
Zhukov, who was scolded by his loving father in public, did not say a word. After suffering a huge loss for contradicting Stalin, Zhukov became shrewd. If he wants to continue to serve the motherland, he cannot continue to do so in public at this time. He contradicted Stalin and simply sat back on his chair without saying a word.
Stalin took a breath and saw Zhukov sitting back in his seat without saying a word. He thought that Zhukov, who was always known for his bullish temper, was acquiescing to his own opinions, and then began to deliver a long speech that he had prepared to the generals present.
The content of Stalin's speech was nothing more than that this war has now entered a critical period, and it requires the sincere unity of the Red Army soldiers to drive the Germans out of the motherland.
Stalin repeatedly emphasized that the Germans were short of troops and difficult to replenish, and were now unable to carry out a full-scale offensive. The Red Army, on the other hand, must conduct active defense and proactively accumulate strength to launch an unstoppable counterattack, and take the initiative to attack at the appropriate time to completely disrupt the German offensive deployment. Thus completely seizing the initiative on the battlefield.
This meeting that decided the fate of the Soviet army in 1942 ultimately failed to change because of Malashenko's little persuasion.
Zhukov, who was worried that he would be beaten to the end by Stalin again, did not choose to go against the bull in the end. Zhukov, who was familiar with Stalin's temper and character, understood very well that the current battle must be fought. This was the supreme leader's absolute will that could not be disobeyed.
With Stalin finalizing the counterattack plan of the Red Army General Staff Headquarters, the war machine of 1942 that almost prevented Malashenko from dying in Stalingrad finally slowly turned on its first gear.