"I do not deny that Colonel Sokov has accomplished many meritorious deeds." Vasilevsky knew that Sokov had some abilities, but the newly formed combat group will determine the fate of Stalingrad in the days to come.
, if it is handed over to a person with insufficient qualifications to command, the consequences will be very serious, so he said stubbornly: "But he is too young and has never commanded a large corps in combat.
Giving him orders, I think, is irresponsible to the city."
"Comrade Stalin," seeing that Vasilevsky was so firmly opposed to Sokov being the commander, Zhukov quickly helped Sokov put in good words: "Since the Battle of Stalingrad, the troops commanded by Xiao Misha have been
They smashed the enemy's attacks countless times and thwarted their plot to capture Mamayev Heights. Seeing that they could not capture this strategic point, the enemy adjusted their tactics and only sent troops from the slave country to contain the defense areas of the 41st Guards Division.
attack, while the main force moves north to attack the barricade factory and Dzerzhinsky factory."
Seeing that the two people had different opinions on the selection of combat group candidates, Stalin did not immediately express his position. He stood up, holding his pipe in one hand and holding the other behind his back, and walked slowly in the office, thinking about what he should do.
Zhukov and others were afraid of interrupting Stalin's train of thought and did not dare to speak. Instead, they quietly watched him pacing back and forth in the office.
After an unknown amount of time, when the two of them saw Stalin stop, they guessed that he had made a decision, and they both looked at him intently, wondering whose opinion he supported in the end.
"Comrade Vasilevsky," Stalin pointed at Vasilevsky with the hand holding the cigarette butt and asked: "If we want to transfer three full infantry divisions into the city now, how long will it take?
"
Vasilevsky made some calculations in his mind, and then replied: "Comrade Stalin, due to the blockade of the Volga River by the German artillery and air force, the transportation capacity of our fleet has been affected. If we want to send three fully-manned ships
If the infantry divisions and the weapons they carry are brought into the city, I think it will take at least ten days."
"Ten days is too long." Stalin shook his head and said, "By the time all the troops enter the city, our additional troops will surely have been discovered by the Germans."
"But this is also the fastest speed." Vasilevsky said with a sad face: "And this can only be accomplished while reducing the supply transportation in the city."
"I have an idea. We don't have to rush to determine the commander of the combat group for the time being." After Stalin sat down at the table, he said to the two of them: "But as the candidate recommended by Chuikov, I plan to test Xiao Misha to see if he
Do you have the ability to command this force?"
"Test?!" Zhukov heard this and asked in confusion: "How to test?"
"Didn't Comrade Chief of General Staff say that it would take ten days to send three full divisions into the city?" Stalin put his pipe in his mouth, lit it, took a puff, and said slowly: "If Xiao Misha
Being able to find a way to get all these troops into the city within three days shows that he has the ability to serve as a combat group commander."
Three days?! Hearing the date set by Stalin, Zhukov smiled bitterly and shook his head. He felt that even he could not cross tens of thousands of troops across the river in three days. It seemed that even if a combat group was really established, this
The position of commander has nothing to do with Sokov.
Seeing that no one objected to his opinion, Stalin waved his hand and said decisively: "Since none of you have different opinions, the matter is settled. Comrade Antonov, please call Yeremenko back immediately and tell us
Notify him of the decision.”
After Antonov stepped aside, Stalin remembered something important, so he stood up and walked to his desk, pressing the call bell on the desk. After a while, the door was opened, and the bald Persian
Klebyshev appeared at the door, eagerly awaiting Stalin's instructions.
Stalin walked up to Poskrebyshev and ordered him: "You immediately call the editor-in-chief of the Red Star newspaper and ask them to immediately send personnel to Stalingrad to focus on interviews and reports on the 41st Guards Division. Through the newspaper
, tell the soldiers and civilians across the country about the results they have achieved, and strengthen everyone's confidence in defeating the enemy."
Stalin's words reminded Zhukov, and he quickly said to the side: "Comrade Stalin, can I add a few more words?" After getting Stalin's permission, he continued, "In order to boost the morale of the soldiers and civilians in Stalingrad, I
I feel that we should set an example for them, and Colonel Sokov obviously agrees with this standard. We should not only report the results he achieved in Stalingrad, but also publicize his previous achievements to let everyone understand,
The Germans are not invincible."
"Comrade Zhukov, what you said makes sense." Stalin agreed with Zhukov's proposal. He added to Boskrebyshev: "Tell the editor-in-chief that we should not only report on the results achieved by Colonel Sokov, but also
Even the achievements made in the past need to be introduced at some length."
"I understand, Comrade Stalin." Boskrebyshev replied respectfully: "I will convey your wishes to the editor-in-chief of Red Star."
Yeremenko received the reply message from Antonov. After reading the content clearly, he couldn't help being stunned. He handed the telegram to Khrushchev and asked in confusion: "Comrade Khrushchev,
Look at what this telegram means, asking Colonel Sokov to let all three fully-equipped divisions enter the city within three days. What is going on?"
Khrushchev took the message with a puzzled look on his face and read the contents carefully. After reading it, he shook his head and said: "Comrade Commander, this is simply an impossible task. Let alone three days, even six."
God, with our current transportation capabilities, it may be difficult to complete such a task."
"Comrade Khrushchev," Yeremenko saw that Khrushchev's ideas coincided with his own, so he asked tentatively: "Look, should we send another telegram to the base camp to tell us the actual situation here?
Tell them the situation so they don't make such unrealistic plans."
"It's useless, Comrade Commander." Khrushchev waved his hand and said: "There must be a reason why our superiors gave us such a purpose. Even if we object, it will be of no use. In my opinion, it is better to
Forward this telegram to Chuikov and let him have a headache."
"Good idea." Yeremenko replied with a smile: "He was the instigator of this matter. Since the superiors gave us the problem, we let him find a solution. According to the intelligence, he came from the direction of Moscow.
Those three full divisions still have two days to get here, and he still has two days to consider how to solve this problem."