"Guess what he will do? Will he come over and scold me? Huh?"
Malashenko always felt that something was wrong with Chuikov's expression. The future Soviet Defense Minister was the first to shout about using nuclear weapons on rabbits during the Zhenbao Island incident, and Malashenko knew that.
Discussing matters rather than talking about people, Malashenko can still understand Chuikov's irritable mood at that specific point in time. After all, such a huge battle loss only caused a few casualties to the opponent. No one cares about this matter.
What a pleasure, not to mention that Comrade Lao Cui was the Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union at the time.
But if nothing else, just from this incident, you can see how bad-tempered Chuikov is. After dozens of people died, he immediately clamored for a nuclear tie with his opponents, and he was ready to take action. Is this true?
Common.
There is a saying that Malashenko is looking at Chuikov's old face and is really afraid that this big brother will suddenly come over and scold him.
As for the why, the reasons, and the reasons, Malashenko himself can’t say it, but it’s not important.
"Why did he come over to scold you? I think you did a good job. You killed the German commandos and relieved the siege of the headquarters. He should praise you."
"Really? I don't have extravagant expectations. Just don't scold me. I'm serious..."
While the two were muttering, Chuikov, who couldn't hear what Malashenko was saying to Lavrinenko, had already strode forward, and the words that followed made Malashenko very excited.
The extent was unexpected.
"If you hadn't brought someone over in time, Comrade Malashenko, my name might have been added to the list of victims today, and of course everyone in the headquarters would have been included."
Malashenko, who was a little surprised at first hearing, quickly realized that Chuikov was exaggerating on purpose. Perhaps it was just to compliment himself as Lavrinenko said.
Of course, if this is the case, it would be really great.
"I know that the 37th Guards Infantry Division was almost completely wiped out. Tell me about the losses of your regiment, Malashenko."
Chuikov, who forcibly pinned the German commandos to death in his headquarters, seemed a little nervous. Continuing to move the location of the headquarters seemed to have become an unimportant matter. A large group of sub-headquarters personnel who had received Chuikov's orders again
Everyone began to do their own business, picked up the scattered documents on the floor, reorganized them, and began to assume communication equipment.
Judging from this situation, Chuikov, who had temporarily solved the crisis, obviously did not intend to leave.
"Comrade Commander, I'm sorry, but shouldn't you move the headquarters quickly now? This place has obviously been exposed. If you continue to stay here, more German troops may arrive. This is too dangerous.
"
Unlike Malashenko's impatient expression, Comrade Lao Cui, who had the expression of an emperor not in a hurry or a eunuch, had a calm expression.
"Transfer? There are German planes everywhere overhead. With so many people moving in the city at this time, those German pilots will definitely be able to see it as long as they are not blind. Besides, losing control and contact with the troops is the worst thing.
Importantly, no one can predict what will happen during the transfer time. The inability to command the troops in real time is the most fatal weakness, isn't it?"
Chuikov looked confident. After hearing this, Malashenko also felt that what he said was quite reasonable. He couldn't think of any good reasons to refute for a while. Only the unexpected ending of the rhetorical question made Malashenko not know what to say.
How to answer.
"Okay, back to the topic, how are the casualties of your regiment?"
Malashenko, who had no intention of continuing the futile attempt to persuade him, tilted his head and thought for a moment, then quickly poured out the numbers he recalled in his mind to Chuikov.
"Seven tanks, Comrade Commander. The entire First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment now has only seven operational tanks left, including my own regiment headquarters command vehicle which was also lost in the battle, and also lost all
heavy tanks, our regiment is now just a medium tank unit."
Malashenko had a sad expression on his face, but Chuikov, who was quietly listening to Malashenko's words, seemed quite calm, his face calm.
"Where are the remaining tanks of your regiment parked now?"
Chuikov asked straightforwardly, but Malashenko gave a straightforward answer without much thought.
"Just outside the entrance to the headquarters, Comrade Commander."
"We chased the German commando all the way here. We heard an explosion about two blocks away, and then I led the people and rushed over."
"The tanks could not drive into the underground tunnel. We saw the corpses of the guards at the entrance of the tunnel, and the door was completely blown open by explosives. We guessed that the Germans must have entered. Then I ordered everyone to get out of the car and divide the troops.
Two groups, together with the remnants of the 109th Regiment who were following me, rushed into the underground tunnel, and you already know what happened after that."
The answer Malashenko gave was basically the same as Chuikov's guess.
It is obviously unrealistic to allow a unit with only 7 tanks left to return to the front line again, not to mention that Chuikov has some things that only he himself knows that he has never told Malashenko.
General Zhukov had already telegraphed the commander of the front army, Yelymenko, and then passed the order to Chuikov's group army headquarters through the front army headquarters.
Moscow has decided to upgrade the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment into the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade and withdraw it from the front line and return to the rear for new unit reorganization and construction to regroup combat effectiveness.
This was Zhukov's personal statement to his loving father, Comrade Stalin, face to face. After the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment had been fighting hard in the direction of Stalingrad for many days, the decision was made by the Supreme Leader himself.
The number and spirit of this heroic tank unit must be preserved and passed on, and it must not be just spent in Stalingrad.
Nowadays, Malashenko and his First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment are no longer just a simple front-line combat force.
From a macro-strategic perspective, it is a flag that has been set up in the entire Red Army, a heroic and epic flag that will not fall down.
As long as this flag remains tenacious and continues to exist, the radiant light, spiritual charisma and morale-boosting effect it brings will be the extremely important existence that the Supreme Leader and the father-in-law Comrade Stalin values most.