Steel Soviet Union

Before Stalin could even finish his words, which made him temporarily relieved, Zhukov, who never stopped talking without shocking anything, immediately revealed something even more explosive.

"But, Comrade Stalin, the prerequisite for being able to do all this is that we need to add at least two more armies and two hundred tanks! These are necessary conditions!"

In 1941, the only person who dared to speak to Stalin in this tone was Zhukov. Even if we look at the entire Soviet Union, Zhukov was the only one left. Surprisingly, Stalin, who had long been accustomed to Zhukov's speaking habits, was unusually calm and did not retaliate. get angry.

He pursed his slightly dry lips and weighed the conditions proposed by Zhukov over and over in his mind. After thinking for a long time, Stalin was still unable to help Zhukov solve the problem and once again responded with his calm words as always.

"It's good that you have the confidence to hold on to Moscow. You must be brave and tenacious! Call Chief of Staff Shaposhnikov and discuss where to concentrate the two reserve armies you need. . These two armies will be ready before the end of November. You have to find a way to hold on before then, but we don’t have tanks yet.”

In most cases in the past, Zhukov would choose to believe Stalin's answer. But this time, Zhukov, who decided to fight for something for Malashenko, chose to speak out.

"But Comrade Stalin, people from the logistics and munitions department told me that a batch of new tanks have come off the production line at the Ural Heavy Machinery Plant and the Stalingrad Traction Vehicle Plant. If possible, I hope you can allocate these tanks to me, at least. Allocate enough of them to me to make up for the battle losses."

Hearing Zhukov's words from the other end of the phone receiver, Stalin, who originally had his own plans in mind, couldn't help but fell silent.

According to the original idea, Stalin planned to use this batch of new tanks that had just rolled off the production line to form one or two independent Guards tank brigades. In Stalin's view, the combat effectiveness of the newly formed Guards tank units fully equipped was greater than that of these new tanks. The effect of adding tanks piecemeal to the old units is much better.

But Stalin never expected that Zhukov, a guy who has always been bold and bold, actually got this key information from nowhere. Now that the war situation is extremely tense, it is useless to try to find out who told Zhukov this important information. Repeatedly After weighing the pros and cons, Stalin finally made a decision.

"Are you sure you can use these tanks to turn the tide of the war? Zhukov, I want to remind you that these tanks are the latest production of improved T34 tanks. They have only been briefly tested and have not been on the battlefield. I want you to give me a affirmative answer."

The words from Stalin undoubtedly pushed Zhukov into a corner. Even though he knew that Stalin was reluctant to allocate these new tanks to him, Zhukov made the decision without much thought and immediately responded with a firm voice. , blurted out to Stalin who was still waiting on the other end of the phone.

"I believe that Malashenko can do a better job than other tank commanders. I have reason to believe that he must have this ability, as always! I assure you, Comrade Stalin, these tanks are deployed under Malashenko's command The combat performance will definitely be better than that of other tank units!"

There is no doubt that the words of firm trust from Zhukov did touch Stalin on the other end of the phone. It seemed that Zhukov had never shown such trust to a low-level commander before.

"Why do you believe that Malashenko will be able to do it? I have never seen you vouch for a lieutenant colonel to me, Zhukov."

The emotional communication between people is a very profound and unclear relationship.

Zhukov, who has read countless people, boasts that he has a thorough understanding of the Red Army commanders and ordinary soldiers at the grassroots level, but all this was completely overturned in an instant after meeting Malashenko.

There is no doubt that the firm red faith exists in Malashenko's heart, but Zhukov always feels that there is something different about Malashenko that he cannot explain. This very wonderful feeling was thought about for a long time by Zhukov who could not comprehend it. But in the end, Zhukov, who still found nothing, could only conclude that Malashenko might be really special.

After all, genius does sometimes appear, even if this genius is a rare one in a hundred years.

Thinking of this, Zhukov could not help but strengthen his trust in Malashenko and once again gave Stalin a positive answer.

"There are some things in Malashenko that even I can't see through. Comrade Stalin, I believe that even you must have the same feeling as me. Although I haven't been able to finalize it, I think it should be these. The indescribable special feeling makes me firmly believe that Malashenko will be able to do those seemingly impossible things."

There was no reply from the other end of the silent phone, as if it had been hung up for a long time. About a full minute later, Stalin, who put down his corn pipe, had already found a trace of empathy in Zhukov's words.

"Since you choose to trust him, then go ahead and do it, Zhukov. Moscow will try its best to support all your reasonable needs, as long as it can bring victory."

"Thank you for your decision, Comrade Stalin, I will spread the news of victory throughout our Soviet Union."

Zhukov, who once again put down the microphone in his hand and issued a military order guarantee to Stalin, was not relaxed.

The heavy burden on his shoulders and the still poor battle situation on the front severely hampered any strategic intentions Zhukov had conceived. The serious shortage of troops was the biggest problem for a general like Zhukov who was good at commanding large corps in frontal decisive battles.

"Hopefully we can actually get through this"

Hopefully we can actually get through this.

After playing with the last words on the letter paper in front of him, he gently placed the pen that seemed as heavy as a thousand pounds in his hand. In his spare time, he would always write letters to friends far away at home, which was Guderian's only way to relieve stress.

Compared to Zhukov, who was only a few dozen kilometers away in front of him, the responsibilities and dilemmas faced by the father of the German armored forces were even more severe.

The failure of progress in the direction of Istria was somewhat beyond Guderian's expectations. The battle situation in which an entire main armored regiment mixed with new Panzer III tanks was completely annihilated was something Guderian never expected.

Guderian still remembers Lieutenant Colonel Walter as an excellent example of the perfect armored commander in his mind.