Steel Soviet Union

"If, I mean if, Comrade Marshal"

"If we can take out those air defense towers, completely eradicate them physically, use the ruins of these air defense towers to show the great strength and overwhelming power of the Red Army, and cooperate with some necessary psychological and propaganda offensive methods, I think this It is bound to break down the psychological defenses and willpower of quite a few Germans, thereby accelerating our final victory.

Malashenko stopped talking and did not continue. It does not mean that there is nothing more to say, but he just feels that some words can be paused here. The next key is to look at Zhukov's attitude before making a decision.

"Your analysis makes sense, but it involves the question of whether it's worth it, Malashenko."

"Destroying those air defense towers will indeed greatly damage the morale of the defenders, and it is likely to lead to an earlier end to the war. We have already expected this. In addition to their military value, these air defense towers have more symbolic morale-boosting significance. , They are the pillars used by the shampooers to stabilize the morale of the military and the people, but destroying this thing is not easy. "

“After analyzing the design drawings of the air defense tower we obtained, the Corps of Engineers concluded that destroying such an air defense tower would require at least 30 tons of explosives, and only directional blasting from the inside could ensure stable destruction.

"Under such a premise, it can be said that using conventional weapons to attack from the outside is completely ineffective. Failure to damage the internal load-bearing structure is like scratching the surface. Our heavy artillery and even bombers cannot deal with such giant targets. If infantry units are used to attack Actual attack and occupation will put the cart before the horse and tie up a large number of troops and cause many unnecessary casualties. "

"Because of this, when Vasilevsky and I were formulating the plan, we finally agreed that the cost of destroying it was not worth it compared with the possible rewards. Bypass it and ignore it. It may keep the defenders' determination to resist, but we can achieve the same effect through other means and methods, thereby accelerating the end of the war, such as taking over the Capitol or the Prime Minister's Office."

Zhukov's analysis came to an end for the time being. He was sure that Malashenko would understand what he meant and analyze important information from it, so there was no need for him to talk too much. As for the next step, it depends on whether Malashenko changes his view or sticks to his own ideas and puts forward something else to promote it.

In the end, it was no surprise that Malashenko chose the latter. Malashenko did have a more detailed plan to tell Zhukov.

"I understand that the most critical part of this problem is that conventional weapons cannot violently destroy anti-aircraft towers from the outside. If infantry is used to forcibly attack and occupy, it will put the cart before the horse and play into the hands of the Germans. "

"But we have another solution, Comrade Marshal. We have a super weapon that can solve the problem once and for all from a long distance. It can not only destroy the air defense towers in the path of our attack, but also those that are not in the path of our attack. The anti-aircraft towers on the road can also be destroyed together, just like blowing up the psychological pillars of the Germans, destroying these sticks one by one, so that they can learn the consequences of opposing the Red Army. "

""

A super weapon?

With his eyes narrowed, Zhukov seemed to vaguely guess what Malashenko was referring to in his words, but he was not 100% sure. The words he was looking for answers quickly blurted out.

"You mean the "Red Stalingrad"? That super cannon you captured outside Stalingrad?"

Zhukov's words hit the spot, and the only answer he received was Malashenko's gentle nod.

""

Zhukov, who was still thinking, did not speak further. Malashenko, who saw such a scene, simply took over the right to speak and continued.

"It's not just the air defense towers, Comrade Marshal, as long as we deploy this siege cannon, all the defensive positions in Berlin will become targets within the range of our firepower. Any place where the Germans are stubbornly resisting will be included. Within the strike range, with just one artillery shell, we can easily defeat a strong defensive point that a regiment of troops cannot attack for a long time. "

"Psychological warfare propaganda can be carried out simultaneously with the physical offensive. Every time a German defensive point is destroyed, we can inform all the remaining Germans in the city."

"The initiative on the battlefield is in our hands. We will start a countdown to death. Whether it is artillery bombardment, airdrops from aircraft, or even loudspeakers, there are many ways to pass the message in to let the Germans know, so that these Germans understand that we can do it at any time. Destroying them will not even give them a chance to escape. Life or death only lasts a moment, and they will be entangled in despair and fear that they may be destroyed at any time. "

"Death is not terrible. What is terrible is knowing that death is coming but you can only wait for it, and there is still a little bit towards the foreseeable last period of death. This giant cannon will make all the Germans in the city tremble all the time. Shrouded in this abyssal fear, the building will collapse like a mountain. Coupled with this abyssal fear, I am sure that this will achieve extremely effective results. "

"Just like we used this huge cannon to dismantle the psychological pillars of the Germans one by one, those anti-aircraft towers that were more symbolic than practical."

Malashenko was after more than just physical destruction.

How easy it is to physically destroy the enemy. At this point in the war, it can be said that destroying the Germans is a very simple matter. The leader himself has countless ways to destroy all kinds of Germans.

What Malashenko really cares about is how to win the final victory through a more efficient and cost-effective way, making the bloody Battle of Berlin easier and easier, at least to reduce the casualties of the Red Army Lower the casualties of the leading division responsible for the main attack.

Too many commanders and fighters have reached this point. They are only a short distance away from the final victory. It would be a pity to fall on the eve of victory. Malashenko hopes from the bottom of his heart that more commanders and fighters can witness it. The final moment of victory.

Moreover, Malashenko can indeed consider some longer-term things after the Battle of Berlin and make early plans for this. For example, he must avoid the situation where the leading division is unable to participate in certain subsequent operations due to excessive casualties in the Battle of Berlin. .