At the headquarters of the Western Front, Zhukov leaned back in his office chair and rubbed his forehead, then lit a cigarette to try to relax.

Since Zhukov took over as commander of the Western Front, it can now be said that the most dangerous stage is now...... The Mozhaisk line was only a hundred kilometers from Moscow, and the Germans would break through the line and force under the city of Moscow at the slightest mistake.

To this end, Zhukov successively transferred 14 infantry divisions, 16 tank brigades, more than 40 artillery regiments and other units from the friendly and neighboring fronts and rear to the front, and reorganized the 5th, 16th, 43rd and 49th armies.

This is already the limit of what the Soviet army can withstand at this time.

However, it is gratifying that although these are not enough to build a strong front, they have been relieved.

"Comrade Zhukov!" The staff officer cautiously handed Zhukov a document.

If it weren't for Zhukov's explanation, the staff officer would not have bothered Zhukov at this time.

Zhukov let out an "um" and nodded and motioned for the staff officer to put the papers on the table.

It was the minutes of the meeting sent from the Stalingrad Tractor Plant.

If someone else had proposed a half-track armored car, Zhukov would have bothered to bother at all, but this person was a "breakthrough hero"...... Zhukov had to take it seriously.

Speaking of this "breakthrough hero", even Zhukov felt a little incredible.

Again and again, he not only managed to break through the enemy's encirclement, but even broke through other units from the encirclement.

For example, this time, if it weren't for his plan, Zhukov thought that the 4th Tank Brigade would simply not be able to free the 20,000 Soviet troops besieged in Tver.

Before that, a force of 20,000 men might not be anything at all.

But now, when the whole army is deployed on the Mozhaisk defense line and there is basically no force left, 20,000 men are very important.

After resting for a while, Zhukov picked up the minutes from the table and flipped through them.

Then he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, especially when he saw the last paragraph, Zhukov nodded as he watched...... Now, if anyone had told him that he should abandon the development of a half-track armored vehicle, Zhukov believed that he was most likely a spy sent by the Germans.

"Comrade Zhukov!" At this time, the staff officer pushed the door in and reported: "Comrade Stalin's call! ”

Zhukov picked up the phone and listened to Stalin on the other end of the phone and asked in an unhurried tone: "In 10 days it will be the anniversary of the October Revolution, should we hold a military parade on Red Square?" ”

Zhukov couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, at this time Moscow was retreating in a panic, all organs were burning documents, the front line was nervously resisting the German attack, and it was possible to break through the defense line and rush into Moscow at any time, how could a military parade be held?

"Let me ask again, are we going to have a military parade?" Stalin repeated.

"Comrade Stalin!" Zhukov replied: "Our situation is critical, almost all of our troops are at the front, and at this time a military parade is held...... Is it appropriate? ”

"I think there should be a military parade!" Stalin replied: "Especially at such a juncture of national peril!" Holding a military parade will not only give a huge spiritual boost to the people of Moscow, but even to the whole army and the whole country! ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Zhukov quickly understood that this was not an inquiry at all, but that Stalin had prepared him for the parade.

After putting down the phone, Zhukov began to be embarrassed.

Because the parade required the concentration of forces on Red Square in Moscow, which was easily bombed by the Luftwaffe.

This problem seems to be easy to solve, since it is possible to organize the air defense forces to defend the air with full force, and the air force can be used intensively...... Although the Soviet Air Force could not confront the Germans at this time, it was still possible to ensure the safety of the skies over Moscow in a short time.

What is more important is that the parade must be withdrawn from the front line, and the transfer of troops will inevitably empty the front line, and the German army may take the opportunity to attack at this time.

Zhukov looked at the map for a while, thinking:

The parade may also be able to draw a portion of the troops and return them to the battlefield as soon as the parade is over.

The problem is in the Tula direction.

Tula has been surrounded by the German army, that is, it has broken through the defensive line, and the Soviet army has only blocked the way of the German armored division with mines and obstacles, and on the other hand, the German army is also unable to attack safely because Tula occupies the supply line...... Tula was flanked by a lake on one side and a river on the other, and the German 3rd Panzer Division's only narrow railway bridge as a supply line was far from meeting the needs of the attack, so they could only try to destroy the Tula defenders first.

But this also means that the Tula direction is dangerous.

Thinking of this, Zhukov said to the staff officer: "Inform the 4th Tank Brigade to prepare a counteroffensive against Tula!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Zhukov!"

At this time, the 4th Tank Brigade was undergoing intensive training, and they had to adapt to the addition of demining tanks and solve various problems.

And Shulka, on the other hand, was discussing the half-track armored car with Kalashnikov at the company headquarters.

The R&D department needs to fully understand the requirements of the troops for half-tracked armored vehicles, and there is no need to say more about who this candidate is, of course, Kalashnikov.

"The thickness of the armor is required on the sides of 7 mm!" Shulka said: "THE FRONT IS ABOUT 13MM ......"

This is the thickness of the frontal armor of the German tank "No. 1", that is, it can block machine gun bullets.

"There must be an armored baffle in front of the cab!" Shulka said.

"Armor shutter?" Kalashnikov didn't know what it was.

"Yes!" Shulka said: "It is a piece of armor that can be moved, which can be turned over to shield from the sun and rain when marching in peacetime, and can be put down to increase the protection of the cockpit during combat...... Of course, an observation hole is opened! ”

"Great idea!" Kalashnikov said.

"The maximum speed requirement can reach about 50 kilometers per hour!" "The T34 tank has a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour, and the half-track armored vehicle as a transport infantry should be faster than it, so that it can effectively catch up with and support the tank in battle," Shulka said. ”

Kalashnikov nodded: "If you reduce its size and reduce the load, the maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour is not a big problem!" ”

"The minimum requirement is to be able to carry 10 people, and there is also some space to set up a machine gun to store ammunition!"

"Of course!" Kalashnikov replied: "If you can't load even 10 people, then it's an armored car!" ”

The Soviet army at this time was generally armed with a light armored vehicle BA64, which was mainly used to perform reconnaissance and escort transport convoy tasks.

At this moment, a phone call came to Shulka's office, and Pukarev, who answered the phone, said: "Comrade Shulka, Major Zakhakavich asked you to go to his headquarters!" ”

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