"You've finally come up with a defense plan!" Stalin said sarcastically on the phone.

"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Golikov admits his mistake: "I underestimated my own strength, the power of the people, so I thought that we had no hope of victory, so I kept taking a negative attitude. That's not right, I think we still have a chance, a chance to hold Stalingrad! ”

Golikov's words pleased Stalin, but he corrected them anyway: "Not a chance, Comrade Golikov, it is necessary!" We must hold Stalingrad, otherwise we will lose the whole war! ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin, I agree!" Golikov replied: "So I decided to hold Stalingrad at any cost!" ”

Stalin nodded: "I'm glad you have such an awareness, then, tell me about your defense plan!" ”

"I need time to integrate the resources and forces of Stalingrad!" Golikov said: "Only in this way will it be possible to hold Stalingrad by holding the enemy's attack!" ”

"So, what do you think we can do to gain time?"

"Stalingrad Front!" Golikov said: "I think they should switch to a counteroffensive to attract the attention of the enemy, which will reduce the pressure on Stalingrad, and at the same time I need reinforcements, equipment and supplies!" ”

After thinking about it, Stalin replied: "You will get reinforcements and supplies, but the counteroffensive actions of the Stalingrad Front, I think need to be considered!" ”

"Of course, Comrade Stalin!"

Golikov, of course, knew that Stalin could not agree immediately, because the counteroffensive of the Stalingrad Front was not a trivial matter, and it required a complete plan and contact with the commander of the Stalingrad Front, Yeremenko.

"I have a question, Comrade Golikov!" Stalin finally asked: "What changed your mind and made you believe that you could hold Stalingrad!" ”

"It's a man, Comrade Stalin!" Golikov said: "I'm sure you know this man, he is the 'breakout hero' we know!" ”

Stalin said "um" and hung up the phone.

Hearing the name "Breakout Hero" again surprised Stalin, but it seemed to be expected, because Stalin knew that the "Breakout Hero" had been transferred out of his original unit, and although he didn't bother with where he was transferred, it now seemed that he should have been transferred to the vicinity of Stalingrad.

"Who the hell is this 'breakout hero'!" Stalin said to himself: "Why can a junior officer play a decisive role in every place and in every battle?" ”

However, Stalin did not give much thought to this aspect, and for the leader of the country, he should have focused more on the big picture than on a junior officer.

Then, he soon realized that Golikov's suggestion was right, that the Stalingrad Front should switch to a counteroffensive, otherwise the Battle of Stalingrad would fall into a total passivity.

At this time, he couldn't help but think of the "breakout hero" again...... Is this strategic plan from the hands of the "breakout hero"? Just like he did before for Mehris?

After thinking about it for a while, Stalin made a decision, and Stalin appointed Zhukov to an unprecedented position: Supreme Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Its duty was to assist in commanding the Stalingrad Front and the South-Eastern Front, defending Stalingrad at all costs.

Of course, the main part of this was to direct the Stalingrad Front to launch a counteroffensive to relieve pressure on Stalingrad.

Golikov in Stalingrad proposed a series of measures for the implementation of the wind and fire, Shulka proposed:

"First of all, we must be clear: we have no possibility of retreating, although we have a way back and time to retreat to the east bank of the Volga, but this will never be our option, we will fight the enemy to the end at Stalingrad!"

This is what "death and then life".

Stalingrad's proximity to the Volga River is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

It is said to be an advantage because it does not allow the German army to encircle Stalingrad on all sides and completely cut it off from the outside world...... Unless the Germans hit the east bank of the Volga, which is almost impossible.

To say that it was a disadvantage is that it always gave the defenders of Stalingrad a hope, a hope that they could retreat to the east bank and escape.

This hope was terrifying for the defenders, and it was like a "siege and three" tactic, in which the Mongol cavalry always deliberately freed up the enemy to flee when they surrounded the enemy.

This tactic first shook the enemy's will to desperately resist the trapped beast fight.

Both Golikov and Krylov agreed.

"That's right, Comrade Shulka!" Golikov said: "We are going to fight with the enemy on our backs, and we are going to cut off this back road, or rather, to break everyone's idea of retreating!" ”

"We're going to let everyone know a little bit!" Krylov said: "Either hold the city or die here, there is no third possibility!" ”

Soon, Golikov drafted a letter to the military and civilians, which was broadcast on the Stalingrad radio:

"Dear comrades, all citizens of Stalingrad:

A berserk enemy has approached the city we live in. As 24 years ago, our city is going through difficult times, when bloody invaders want to break into our sunny and energetic Stalingrad and defile our great Russian river, the Volga......

Citizens of Stalingrad, comrades!

This time, we will not compromise, we will never allow the enemy to encroach on our dear city, we will never allow the enemy to destroy our houses and families. We will build impassable barricades on all streets, and we will make every house, every neighborhood, every street a fortress that the enemy cannot attack......"

It should be said that Golikov's words are still very level, especially since they are mentioned 24 years ago.

24 years ago, it was the First World War.

The Germans also attacked Russia in World War I, which ended with the collapse of the Russian army and the Treaty of Brest, which ceded more than 3 million square kilometers.

Of course, these lands did not end up in the pockets of Germany, and with the defeat of Germany, the peace treaty became a dead letter.

But this experience has become a pain in the hearts of all Soviet soldiers and civilians, especially now that the Soviet Union is invading the Soviet Union and fighting against the Soviet Union, it is the German army that left them with shame back then.

So, it was in this way that Golikov told them: the time has come to wash away the shame, either to drive the Germans out, or to die in Stalingrad!