Anupryevich finally ordered Colonel Katukov to command two tank brigades to go up and block the German attack.

Of course, it is said that there are two tank brigades, but in fact the total number of tanks is only seventy, and most of them are light tanks, and their strength is not as good as that of one tank regiment of the enemy.

Then the results of the reconnaissance came out, and the enemy was an armored division, that is, the 11th Panzer Division and the 106th Infantry Regiment.

Major General Anufrievich hurriedly reported the news to his superiors, and after more than an hour of long waiting, the Supreme High Command finally gave the order to retreat.

"They're finally admitting their mistakes!" Major Anupryevich muttered quietly, but no one could hear what he said.

Anupryevich said that another meaning of the retreat ordered by the Supreme Command was to admit the complete bankruptcy of the counteroffensive plan...... The counterattack in the direction of Serpukhov was inflicted with heavy casualties before it could be launched, and although the Volokolamsk direction opened a defensive line and attacked to Tver, it was lonely and faced the dilemma of being surrounded and had to retreat.

As a result, apart from the loss of a large amount of equipment, troops, and the morale of the troops, it can be said that nothing was gained.

The troops began to retreat towards Volokolamsk, and the Germans attacked in several directions, so that the tank units under Katukov's command were overwhelmed...... Of course, the small number of tanks in Katukov's hands could not be divided again, otherwise it would be easy to be broken by the enemy individually.

As a result, the retreat of Soviet troops in the direction of Volokolamsk was quickly cut off, and almost 20,000 people were trapped in the encirclement.

The command of the Western Front, while Zhukov was frowning and thinking about how to face the situation in front of him, the phone rang.

The call was made by Stalin, who named him to speak to Zhukov.

This was a bit of a surprise to Zhukov, because before that the superiors had always contacted Bulganin, and then Bulganin gave orders to himself.

After Zhukov picked up the phone to identify himself, Stalin's voice rang on the other end of the phone: "Do you think we can hold Moscow?" I'm feeling a little heavy! As a party member, please make an objective assessment of the current situation at this time! ”

Although this did not admit anything, there was no doubt that Stalin had lost hope in the current situation.

Although the Soviets fought well in the Volokolamsk area, the recapture of Tver was a complete failure, and Moscow not only failed to open the railway line to obtain reinforcements and equipment from Leningrad, but lost the last bit of reserve...... The 20,000 men encircled in Tver were only part of the counteroffensive in which the Soviets invested 100,000 men and transferred advanced and scarce equipment, such as Katyusha rocket artillery and anti-tank guns squeezed out of the defending units.

But now, in addition to the only a few thousand people left in the Serpukhov direction and the main forces of the 4th Tank Brigade, which did not advance to Tver according to the order, only 20,000 people remained in Tver.

"Yes!" Zhukov replied: "I am convinced that we can hold Moscow!" ”

After a pause, Zhukov added: "However, I need to increase the strength of at least 2 armies and 200 tanks!" ”

"Good!" Stalin replied: "You call the General Staff and discuss the assembly place of the two army groups you want, I will give you these troops, but it will take some time, but there are still no tanks at the moment, you must hold on!" ”

Then Stalin hung up the phone.

Soon Bulganin received a phone call from the Supreme High Command, after which he said to Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, the Supreme High Command orders me to obey your orders and assist you in command!" ”

That is, the command again returned to Zhukov.

Zhukov did not dare to slack off, he called Rokossovsky with a phone call and asked: "How is the situation, you are now under my command!" ”

The second half of the sentence seems to be nonsense, because the 16th Army has always been under the command of the Western Front, that is, Zhukov.

But Rokossovsky understood what he meant, and immediately replied: "The situation is not good, Comrade General!" We are now facing two difficulties! ”

"What difficulty?"

"First of all, do we want to rescue Tver!" "It seems that the Germans are in no hurry to completely close the encirclement and annihilate the besieged troops, you know what they want to do," Rokossovsky said. ”

"Yes!" Zhukov nodded.

Obviously, this was a strategy of the Germans to "encircle the point and send reinforcements", hoping to induce the Soviets to reinforce Tver, and the Soviets had only one force capable of reinforcing Tver...... 4th Tank Brigade.

"What about the other difficulty?" Zhukov asked.

"We can't do the same 'tug-of-war tactics' as before!" Rokossovsky replied.

Zhukov immediately understood why.

The essence of the "tug-of-war tactic" consisted in retreating during the day in a weak situation, and counteroffensive at night when the enemy's air force was no longer functional.

But now, the main forces of the 316th Division and the 4th Tank Brigade, which had been surrounded by the Germans in Tver, were still retreating as planned...... It means giving up hope of rescuing Tver!

So Zhukov also found himself in a dilemma.

To save or not to save?

It is very likely that not only will it not save people, but it will make more people fall into the encirclement.

No, it was a force of 20,000 people, in addition to which it was equipped with the "Katyusha", anti-tank guns, and even dozens of T34s, which were in short supply in the Soviet army.

You must know that at this time, even the T34s of the Fourth Tank Brigade are not matched, and these dozens of T34s and 20,000 people are likely to be the last pillar of the entire defense line of the Soviet army.

Of course, this is the responsibility of the High Command, whose counteroffensive plan is simply to send these scarce equipment into the enemy's encirclement.

But this is not the time to pursue accountability, and certainly not accountability.

After thinking about it, Zhukov ordered: "You ask for the advice of the 4th Tank Brigade, I want to know if they are sure to rescue!" ”

"Yes, Comrade General!" Rokossovsky replied.

But having said that, Rokossovsky knew it in his heart...... Zhukov's so-called "soliciting the opinion of the 4th Tank Brigade" is actually not talking about the 4th Tank Brigade, but about the "breakthrough hero" Shulka.

Of course, as a general, Zhukov, of course, will not say to his subordinates: "You ask that Shulka and see what he can do!" ”

If this is said, there will be no place for Zhukov, a general, who is also the commander of the Western Front, and even the commander of the entire defense of Moscow.

So, Rokossovsky drove to the front command in a car with a couple of guards.