Major Gavrilov choked on vodka and coughed violently, coughing and spitting something that I don't know if it was wine or saliva, and it took a long time to calm down, and then he smiled: "Encircled? You actually want to surround the Germans? Well done, Shulka! ”

"Yes, I just want to surround the Germans!" Shulka replied: "The fact that the German Army Group South is advancing all the time, and that the front is always advancing, will make their rear extremely empty, because they think that we have only defense and no ability to counterattack. It was at this time that we gave them a blow! ”

Shulka set his sights on Admiral Kilponos, which of course needed his approval, otherwise there would be no need to go on.

Admiral Kirponos, who had been silent, thought for a moment and said, "Why not? If we can't stop the enemy from outflanking from the rear, then find a way to crush the enemy in front, I mean if possible. In this way, Germany will not be able to complete the outflanking of us in the end! ”

"Yes, that's exactly what I thought, Comrade General!" Shulka said.

"But ......," said Major Gavrilov, "that's our logistical supply line, I mean if the enemy outflanks our rear, the railways and roads will be cut off by them, we won't be able to get supplies, we're still in the enemy's encirclement!" ”

"If this plan succeeds, we won't need to worry about this, Comrade Major!" Shulka said: "Because we can get supplies from the Black Sea!" ”

"The Black Sea?" Major Gavrilov clearly did not expect this.

"Yes, the Black Sea!" "Our troops will go south from Kyiv into the Vinnytsia district, then into the Odessa district and occupy the coastal cities to join forces with the Southern Front, and then we will be supported and supplied by the Southern Front and the Black Sea Fleet!" Shulka said. ”

"If we can surround and annihilate all the German troops that have entered the east of the Uman district!" Admiral Kirponos added: "We can even use the Dnieper to transport supplies!" ”

The Dnieper made a ">" bend downstream of Kiev and entered the Black Sea.

Therefore, if there is an armored force from Kiev to the south, it will form a perfect encirclement with the Dnieper where the Southern Front is stationed.

At this time, Major Gavrilov forgot to even drink his wine, he stared at the map for a while, then he looked up and said: "Great, Shulka, great!" This plan solves all the problems! Not only did the problem solve, but we could at least encircle a couple of divisions of the Germans east of the Uman district! ”

"But ......" Admiral Kirponos found a place on the map and set his eyes on Shulka: "We will most likely only have a few days, because the Germans are only 80 kilometers away from us!" ”

Shulka knew what Admiral Kirponos meant, 80 kilometers meant that the Germans would only need eight days at most, and probably shorter, because after the rain became lighter, the Germans put their fighters into bombing, and the No. 3 tank was put into use normally, so it was rare to have a line of defense that could hold off for a day.

After a pause, Admiral Kirponos said: "But we have no other choice, because I have just received information that Comrade Zhukov has been dismissed from the post of Chief of the General Staff!" ”

Major Gavrilov could not help but be stunned, knowing that Senior General Zhukov had just won the Battle of Nomenkhamp against the Japanese a year earlier, and his achievements were still hot, but now he was dismissed from his post.

Admiral Kirponos explained: "Because he proposed to abandon the Kyiv retreat!" ”

So Major Gavrillo understood.

Of course, Shulka also pretended to be enlightened.

Later, many people believed that the defeat in the battle of Kyiv could not be blamed entirely on the top of the Soviet army, because the top brass of the Soviet army did not give an order to defend Kyiv to the death.

Shulka argues that this is not objective.

It is true that they did not give such an order, but whoever said to retreat will be removed from his post, even Zhukov is no exception, what is the difference between this and giving an order to defend to the death?

And this once again made Admiral Kirponos understand that it is impossible to abandon the retreat from Kiev.

As a result, they seem to have only one choice, and that is Shulka's counter-encirclement plan.

"Tell me about the detailed plan, Shulka!" Admiral Kirponos said: "I'm sure you've got it! ”

"I'm just a little bit of a big deal, General!" Shulka replied.

"Your outrage is enough to scare us!" Major Gavrilov laughed and said: "At first I thought you were crazy, or joking!" ”

What Major Gavrilov said was that everyone, including Admiral Kirponos, was thinking about how to defend and how to break through, but he didn't expect Shulka to think about counterattack and encirclement.

For Shulka, this is not surprising, because he knows that defense and subsequent bursts and so on will not work, so he has to find another way.

"I think we should go in three steps, General!" "First of all, of course, it is necessary to form a mechanized corps and integrate as many light tanks and medium tanks as possible into this team, and the infantry must also be elite," Shulka said. ”

"Don't need a heavy tank?" Major Gavrilov asked suspiciously.

"We need speed, Comrade Major!" Shulka replied: "Heavy tanks are slow and have many breakdowns, and they will be a burden on this army!" ”

Admiral Kirponos nodded in agreement: "I will assemble this force in the shortest possible time, what about the second question?" ”

"Logistics and follow-up troops, General!" "Tanks need fuel, soldiers need food, ammunition, and troops for every garrison we occupy......

This is a big problem.

In comparison, the supply of the defensive operation in Kyiv will be much simpler and less demanding.

Now it is an offensive, especially an outflanking behind enemy lines, and ammunition, fuel, and supplies will increase exponentially, and a large number of vehicles will also be needed.

"No problem!" Admiral Kirponos replied: "Before the enemy has outflanked us to the rear of our army to cut off the railway, I will ask for more supplies, as for the cars...... It can be requisitioned from Kyiv! ”

Requisition of civilian vehicles, which is a good option, can even be requisitioned along with the driver.

"One last bit!" "We need to consciously protect the railway from Kyiv to Ovitiopoli and prepare for repairs, that is, maintenance workers and, if possible, trains," Shulka said. ”

Needless to say, the train could be used to supply and reinforce the attacking troops.