"You should then draw your forces and the reserves, and lose no time in rushing into Moscow, stepping on the shoulders of the retreating Russian soldiers. You didn't do that, and you lost the plane. The enemy immediately took advantage of it, brought in reserves, and built powerful fortifications on the Moscow Threshold. Hitler continued to accuse.

"My Führer! In order to destroy the besieged enemy, we committed 28 elite divisions and many reinforced troops. Despite the well-equipped and well-trained nature of our troops, the enemy inflicted heavy losses on us, and some Russian units broke through under the city of Vyazma and returned to their defensive positions. Halder said.

Hitler paced up and down the table with his hands behind his back and his head bowed with his face puffed up. He walked quickly up to Halder and asked sharply: "Why was the attack of our army on Moscow still stopped?" ”

"My Führer! After the last month of bloody fighting, your invincible army has penetrated 250 to 300 kilometers deep into Russia, and has advanced to the Volokolamsky-Narovminsk-Kalinin line. Halder said as he pointed to the lines marked on the map with his whip.

Hitler glanced at the map, then shouted to everyone present: "Gentlemen! Our army is at the gates of Moscow after all! One more crushing blow - and the Russian capital will fall into our hands! ”

"My Führer! Our brilliant victory will soon shake the world. Goebbels was convinced of this.

"Yes, it will be the greatest victory in the history of Germany. It was pioneered with bayonets in the army under your command, my Führer! From time to time, Goering chimed in.

Hitler's face was full of spring breeze: "Yes, gentlemen, I and you will be witnesses to the fall of our old enemy, Russia." We have the good fortune to see that soon, the whole world will belong to Germany! ”

"Hi Hitler!" Goebbels took the lead in shouting.

Suddenly everyone stood up, people stretched out their arms, and the reinforced concrete vault of the "wolf's den" resounded "Hi, Hitler!" Waves.

Hitler waited until everyone had quieted down and sat down again, and then said to Halder: "General Halder, please report to me what measures the General Army Command will take to seize Moscow before winter comes?" ”

"We believe that the time has come to realize the second phase of the Typhoon campaign. According to the plan, we organized a strong army group on the flanks of the Western Front and the Kalinin Line, strengthened the 7th Army in order to pin down the forces of the enemy in the middle of the Western Front, after which our troops would attack on all fronts. ”

"In order to strike prominently at the Russian army on the Western Front, we concentrated 51 divisions, of which 31 were infantry, 13 were armored, 7 were motorized. At present, we have deployed more than 1 million troops in the Moscow direction, equipped with 14,000 artillery pieces, 1,700 tanks, and 850 aircraft. Heavy forces were also gathered on the Kalinin front. The main forces of the Air Force will support and cover the offensive of the ground forces. ”

"For this campaign we deployed three-quarters of the Luftwaffe's forces." Goering chimed in.

"According to the plan of the general assault on Moscow, we will inflict heavy losses on the Russian troops on the Western Front and the Kalinin Line, break through the Russian defenses, quickly assemble combined tank and motorized forces, and cast an iron circle around Moscow in one fell swoop. In this way, Moscow will be blocked by our army. The inhabitants of Moscow will die of frustration, and the Russian army will be exterminated or taken prisoner. "The Chief of Staff concluded his report.

"Just be careful, Halder, don't let a Russian soldier, a Moscow resident, rush out of this iron ring. Those who attempt to break through are shot on the spot. Hitler ordered.

"Yes, we cannot have any mercy on them," Goering chimed in. Goebbels nodded approvingly to the head on his thin neck.

"My Führer! Your orders will immediately be transferred to Army Group 'Center'. "Field Marshal von. Bauck said.

"Mr. Halder! How many forces did the Russians gather under the city of Moscow? Hitler asked again.

"According to reconnaissance agencies, the Russian army can put into operation 95 to 100 divisions, about 800,000 to 1 million people, armed with 7,000 artillery pieces, 750 to 800 tanks, of which about 150 are heavy and medium, and more than 500 aircraft. The General Command of the Armed Forces is scheduled to simultaneously intensify the offensive of our troops on other fronts at the same time as the attack on Moscow. Halder replied.

"When will the general offensive begin?" Hitler clearly revealed a slight hint of anxiety.

"My Führer! The General Command of the Armed Forces is scheduled to launch a general offensive against Moscow on November 14 and 15 this year. We ask for your approval and permission to immediately prepare for the start of the second phase of the Typhoon campaign. After General Halder finished speaking, he put down his whip, stepped on the carpet, walked silently to the table, and sat down in his chair.

Hitler suddenly stood up, walked briskly back and forth along the table with his hands behind his back, stopped in front of Goering, pressed his hands on Goering's fat shoulders, and shouted: "Hermann! In a few days we will begin the sacred decisive battle for the capture of Moscow, which will determine the whole of our eastern theater. Your bomber should sweep away Moscow and make it disappear from the world map forever, like Pompeii! Let the waves of fire run here, for the good of the empire and the whole world. ”

Goering stood awkwardly, facing Hitler, and even proclaimed: "My Führer! To achieve your ideals, my Air Force will do its best. I think that we will name the sea of fire that appeared on the land of Moscow after you. ”

Hitler smiled.

"Herman was right!" Goebbels hurriedly echoed. The tense generals sitting at the table smiled.

Hitler walked back to the table, sat down on the chair, raised his head, and said in a loud voice: "Mr. Halder! Gentlemen! Today is a historic day for the Reich, and I approved the plan for a general offensive on Moscow. ”

Once again, the participants stood up.

"Hi Hitler!" Goering led the way and shouted.

"Hey! Hitler! Everyone responded in unison.

Hitler walked briskly out of the hall, and Goering and Goebbels hurriedly followed.

Field Marshal von. Bauck went up to Halder and Brauchitsch and said to them: "The second phase of the Typhoon campaign has been approved. Allow me to come to you tomorrow morning to clarify some of the details of the campaign. ”

"Tomorrow? Why not today? Marshal Brauchitsch asked.

"I haven't been home for two months, and I want to spend the rest of this celebration with my family."

Feng. Bao Ke said goodbye to everyone and walked out of the "wolf's den".

Two hours later, in Hitler's stronghold, Goering, Baumann, Goebbels, and Himmler reunited.