In January 1942, perhaps because of Stalin's arrogance and stupidity, the great counteroffensive against the Germans on the Moscow front did not go as the leader had hoped. He mistakenly believed that www.biquge.info the Germans had been tortured by the Soviets to the brink of collapse, and that the defeat of their offensive proved that their combat capabilities were at the end of their strength.

And because the Soviet army has a large number of reinforcements transferred to the capital, its troops and equipment are higher than those of its opponents on a macro level. A full-scale counterattack, or even the return of the Germans to Belarus within a few months, seemed entirely possible.

Stalin rejected Zhukov's strategic decision, the strategic plan of concentrating forces in one place and tearing apart the German army like a chisel with nine armies. Instead, they adopted what they thought were effective methods, attacking the Germans on huge fronts in order to resolve the war in the northern regions of Soviet Russia.

The facts, of course, did not develop at all according to Stalin's ideas, and the Soviet army encountered great resistance in the counteroffensive to Vyazma, and the army could no longer push the front forward.

At this point, the Germans held on to the Vyazma Line, which had been built by the Soviets, and the Soviets had to face the offensive they had built, which now became a strong line of defense under German occupation. The Battle of Rzhev-Sychovka, just like that, broke out.

As in history, the battle took place on the day after Christmas in the Russian calendar. Perhaps the commander-in-chief of the Soviet army hoped that under such a critical holiday as Christmas, the majority of soldiers would have a higher fighting spirit.

On January 8, the festivities of Christmas still permeated the area controlled by the 284th Division in the Pripet swamp, where more than 20,000 people were immersed in a rare peace.

The swamp was surrounded by occupied and uninhabited areas, and the swamp was isolated and peaceful. Because the land is still fertile, the forests are still dense, and there are still plenty of swimming fish in the river.

Even in winter, there is a hot wind blowing from the south, and the temperature is rising, and it is time to plant potatoes.

Yang Mingzhi still lives in the blacksmith village, and he has already explained to Yevlov: "Since most of our army is going to move here, as a commander, I might as well move here first." Moreover, the Pripyat Weapons Design Bureau, which I presided over, needed my ingenuity too much. There are many more options for the design of new weapons, and I have to live here as well. ”

Yevlov fully agreed with this, and he could not help asking: "Yerentina and I may also be relocated, as will all kinds of civilian personnel of the division headquarters, including the guard company." So, do you want to transfer Natasha right away? ”

These words gave Yang Mingzhi a wake-up call. Natasha, this girl has been a neighbor with herself for a long time, she and her wife are sniper partners, and they are like sisters in life.

"Yes! Absolutely! I've been bringing Betsy Carla here for days, and without her, our heroine would be lonely. Yang Mingzhi pondered.

Yevlov smiled and understood completely, and early in the morning of the second day after Christmas, Yevlov immediately sent a report to Catfish Village, directly ordering Natasha to immediately pack up and report to the blacksmith village. In addition to him, the guard company transferred a platoon to the new division headquarters in the blacksmith village as a guard and service.

The people who stayed in Catfish Village immediately understood the significance of this transfer, and it seemed that the originally planned "move" of the troops was about to start again, and people's hearts quietly began to fluctuate.

Natasha received such a direct order, and couldn't help but look at the place where she lived here for nearly half a year with a complicated mentality.

The order was given to her alone, but the girl had a younger brother. What to do with Kostyako? Forget it, let's just take it to the blacksmith village together!

Natasha took it upon herself to say that her eight-year-old brother was not included in the order, but she estimated that the child had simply been forgotten by the chief.

Urgently, Natasha has a few hours to pack her things, and she will move forward with some of the soldiers of the guard company.

Just when it was almost noon, Yang Mingzhi was strolling around the arsenal of the blacksmith village in his spare time, and the star fruit continued to teach cooking knowledge to the chef and cook in the blacksmith village canteen, and life seemed to be orderly.

The sudden arrival of the radio signal brought exciting news.

Yevlov looked at the translated code text of the radioman, and a new campaign actually began. "This news must be communicated to everyone immediately! Guardsman! Quickly call me the political commissar and the deputy division commander! ”

Yang Mingzhi watched with great interest the boring of cannon barrels in the arsenal, while Yerenkina gave an ideological lesson to the members of the collective farm Soviets. The heralds rushed to find the two and deliver the order for the emergency meeting.

"Really, what's the big deal with that guy?" After muttering a few words, Yerentina immediately announced the end of the class to the students. Yang Mingzhi behaved very simply, because Yevlov was a person, and he handled some small matters by himself, and the fact that this emergency meeting was to be held can only mean that there are major incidents.

The two rushed to the new division headquarters, where there were only three participants, and the emergency meeting seemed a little casual. But Yevlov's excited look only shows that it is not a bad thing at all.

"What the hell is going on? You look so excited, did the villagers find honeycombs in the forest and bring you honey? Yerenkina teased.

"How is that possible! The Gomel side sent us a report that the counteroffensive on the Moscow front has ended, and now a new large-scale counterattack has begun! ”

Yang Mingzhi and Yelenkina were shocked, the Soviet army entered a strategic counteroffensive half a year after the start of the war?!

And when Yevlov said the name of the battle, it was like a basin of cold water poured on Yang Mingzhi's head. Unlike Yevlov and Yerenkina's expressions, Yang Mingzhi looked very calm, even with a tense face.

This Yevlov was not happy, and he asked tentatively: "What's the matter, is it that our chief of staff has some complaints about this battle?" ”

"Of course this ......" Yang Mingzhi was about to speak, but after thinking about it, he couldn't tell him that the first offensive battle of Rzhev-Sechovka was stubbornly blocked by the defensive genius of the Nazi German army, Moder, this battle was already protracted, and the Soviet Union and Germany were destined to attack and defend this area for a very long time, it was like a meat grinder, and millions of Soviet soldiers were wounded and killed in this battle. The battle did not end until the German army encountered a strategic turning point, after which the Soviet army completely crushed the German army in Belarus and northern Soviet Russia, as well as the Baltic countries, and completed the liberation of the Soviet Union before the war with Operation Bagration.

But this full-scale offensive of the Soviet army on this long front of Sechovka-Vyazma-Rzhev will end in a serious defeat.

"Alas! This battle reminds me of a quote from the Prussian strategist Clausewitz: the idea of perfection is the worst enemy of a good plan. ”

Yang Mingzhi sat slowly at the table, and the famous quote he quoted was Prussian. Prussia was later Germany, the famous words of their strategists? Yevlov was somewhat upset.

Yerentina, however, knew that there was a Clausewitz.

"It was a very famous strategist, but unfortunately, I think the Germans today lack a real strategist. But they understood Clausewitz's theory of war very well, that is, the killing of our civilians and soldiers has achieved a strategic purpose. Yerentina said coldly. But you, the Chinese, actually know Prussia, and even their strategists. ”

Yang Mingzhi smiled and immediately said: "His "Theory of War" is very famous, and besides, we Chinese are not all people who live in ancient times and know nothing about the world. And the famous quote I just quoted from him is actually referring to the leader. ”

Here, Yang Mingzhi has maintained a great deal of respect for Stalin. But as a military commander, it is also reasonable to point out the mistakes of the leader. So Yerenkina did not get angry, but continued to listen to the high arguments.

"Our Soviet Union, with its strong reserves, a completely new form of government, and twenty years of universal education, has been able to quickly arm more than 100 million people into all-out war. This was the source of the Soviet Union's powerful war potential, and we were able to call up tens of millions of front-line troops, and we were able to make all the factories fully munitions. Our great strength is emerging, and this is how confident the leaders and the group of people in the military council, who look so strong that the Soviet Red Army is already capable of a strategic counteroffensive. Actually, I personally think that the military council and the leaders are too optimistic. ”

"So, this battle will still be lost?" Yerentina asked.

"Nope! Perhaps it will evolve into the Western Front of World War I, although it will not be trench warfare, but the two armies will always be in a stalemate on this front, and it will be difficult for our army to break through the enemy's defense line for a long time. And at the same time, we must know that in our swampy southern Ukraine, where the main forces of the German army are also there. Personally, I believe that since the Germans cannot break through in the north, their strategic center will move south. The Germans will find a way to occupy all of Ukraine, occupy the Crimea, occupy the Caucasus, and even take away the fuel center of our army - the Baku oil fields. ”

Yang Mingzhi's words are very wonderful and shocking. Yerentina and Yevlov's eyes widened, could the battle really develop as Berekov said.

"It's wonderful. Maybe that's the way the future is, because your words sound very reasonable. Yevlov couldn't help but applaud.

Yang Mingzhi waved his hand: "This is just my family's words." Personally, I hope that a new campaign has been launched today, and that the Germans will suffer a crushing defeat. Because we are equipped with new weapons, our rocket-propelled grenades, the Soviet troops in the Moscow direction are already equipped with some, maybe they can replicate our victory on the outskirts of Minsk. But you and I have to be clear that it is the people who determine the victory in the war, not the individual superiority in weapons. Weaponism cannot be applied to this war. ”

In this way, the three men came to a vague conclusion - that is, the outcome of the battle of Rzhev-Sychovka, and the victory or defeat will not be known until the battle is really fought.

"Alright, alright! Intelligence is like that, let's bless them in the swamp. You, Berekov, it's time for you to get ready for our female sniper. Yevlov laughed. (To be continued.) )