"Once again, the attack failed! The German line of defense withstood our attack...... This is not a simple line of defense, it proves that the enemy is definitely prepared. In Rokossovsky's front-line headquarters, the staff officer said with a sad face.

Now the frontal line of defense of the Germans was too strong, the 3rd Guards Tank Division and the 2nd Guards Tank Division had suffered heavy losses, and they still had not been able to break through the enemy's defenses.

"The problem now is that the clouds can thin out at any moment, and then we will have to face a counterattack from the Germans." The chief of staff said depressedly.

He was not only worried about the German air force, because after all, even if the air force attack was very strong, they could force a retreat despite the losses.

But the Germans were on the defensive, and there were no signs of reinforcements or large-scale movements - this kind of thing happened to the rapidly moving German army, which seemed a little strange.

Rokossovsky is not a mediocre talent, he is also a famous general in real historical time and space, so it is not easy for him to ignore some details.

As a commander, his instincts are still sharp. If the Germans do not reinforce their own lines, if they do not consolidate their lines, then they must be hoarding their troops somewhere!

Hoarding troops is not for defense, then there is only one purpose left for attack. So Rokossovsky has been worried about whether his counterattack will reveal any flaws.

"The Germans on the flanks did not have any intention of reinforcing or sharing the pressure of the attack, which is very abnormal." Rokossovsky looked at the map and said to his officers.

He pointed to several important areas on the map and said, "The Germans are preparing a counterattack, and it is in these areas that he says. ”

Although the troops in his hands were insufficient, he still had insight into Guderian's counterattack plan, and the direction of the counterattack of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Panzer Division of the German Army G Group was in one of the sections he had drawn.

But guessing does not mean that it can be stopped, the Soviet army does not have many reserves, and there are no troops to build a strong defensive line.

"General, if the Germans are organizing a counterattack, then the best thing we can do now is to retreat." The chief of staff said uneasily.

In this rainy counterattack, the Soviets destroyed 15 German Leopard tanks, as well as 7 No. 3 and 9 No. 4 tanks, which can be regarded as a brilliant result.

Unfortunately, these results are not enough compared to their own losses - the Soviets have already destroyed more than 210 tanks by the Germans, of which at least 70 are valuable T-34 tanks.

Such losses were not something that Rokossovsky could bear, and he could not even draw forces to continue the offensive.

The Germans had at least 300 tanks on the front, and if he wanted to defeat them, he would have to mobilize at least 500 more tanks.

But the number of tanks left in his hand is too small, let alone 500, and if he excludes the faulty tanks, he may not even be able to make up 300 tanks in his hand.

"Whichever of these areas the Germans choose, we will be cut off from retreating back to Tula, so we are very dangerous now." After his men had been talking for a while, Rokossovsky pointed to the map and continued.

"But no matter which direction the Germans counterattacked from, there is a high probability that their goal will be Tula! Only by taking Tula will they be able to cut us off and give the troops a strong backing. Rokossovsky said with a gesture of his hand to Tula's position.

Then he clenched his hands into fists and smashed them into Tula's position: "So, we better retreat to Tula and wait there for the German counterattack." ”

"Retreat is not allowed, and if we retreat back to Tula, how can we explain the counterattack plan this time?" The chief of staff shook his head bitterly and said in denial.

Rokossovsky, however, did not think so, waved his hand and said: "Comrade Khrushchev will definitely understand our suffering. If the flanks collapse, Moscow is even more dangerous. ”

He was betting, betting that Khrushchev would not be as impersonal as Stalin. As long as Khrushchev approved his plan for retreat, then he could understand the withdrawal of Tula and put an end to this counterattack.

"I will send back a telegram to Comrade Khrushchev and ask for his opinion." Rokossovsky decided to pull down his old face and beg Khrushchev to allow him to retreat.

In fact, his troops had to retreat, and after a series of counterattacks, the main force of 50,000 Soviet troops, that is, three divisions of Soviet troops, was inserted into the concave defense line of the German army.

And around them were 2 armored divisions and 3 infantry divisions in Guderian's hands - if you count the independent tank battalions, the strength is only a lot more......

Once the Germans counterattacked from all sides, the forces that were inserted into the German army like wedges could no longer be withdrawn.

"Send a telegram to Khrushchev and tell them that the German forces have skyrocketed and that the main German forces are preparing a counterattack! Request a retreat! "There had to be a good reason for retreating, and Rokossovsky was certainly familiar with this.

Anyway, judging by the situation on the battlefield, the German army has indeed been strengthened - the 505th Battalion arrived in time to help the 501st Battalion stabilize its position, it is indeed strengthened!

And the so-called excuses such as encountering the main force of the enemy army, that is a common option in the reason for retreating on the battlefield, who has not installed the main force of the enemy army several times, is embarrassed to greet others......

In this way, a telegram flew through time and space and flew into the telegraph room in Moscow. The officer on duty in the telegraph room immediately went to Khrushchev with this telegram.

Khrushchev was reviewing documents on reinforcements in his office when he saw this telegram from the Rokossovsky cluster.

"Rokossovsky is going to retreat? Are you kidding? If he retreats to Tula, then Moscow's southern counterattack, won't it be a failure? Putting down the telegram in his hand, Khrushchev snorted with displeasure.

The officer who sent the telegram lowered his head and did not speak, and the problem of this level was not something that he, the officer on duty in the telegraph room, could comment.

With his hands behind his back, Khrushchev walked around the room before he spoke: "Order Rokossovsky's troops to stand in place!" Don't take a step back! ”

As the commander-in-chief of Moscow's defenses, Khrushchev could not afford to lose the southern gateway to Moscow, and he did not want the city he held on to be besieged.

So he ordered Rokossovsky to hold on to the recaptured positions and delay as long as possible, so that the Germans could not capture Moscow in its entirety before the onset of winter.

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The dragon spirit remembers to set a scheduled update...... But misremembered...... The update is late, sorry, there will be a more update later......