"On the side of the great leader, Comrade Stalin, how shall we explain?" The commissar looked at Zhukov with a bitter face and interjected in this time of confusion.

"You see, the Germans are moving south three times more than we expected! How could we hold such a long line of defense in such a situation? Zhukov asked rhetorically and began to organize his things.

Over there, the chief of staff was directing the officers and secretaries, helping to clean up the maps hanging on the walls, as well as some important documents in the file boxes.

"If you can't take it away, burn it! Burn the unimportant ones too! Light car Jane from leaving here! We don't have much time to waste! Zhukov looked at the busy command and shouted loudly to the chief of staff who counted the documents.

The German armored forces did not wait for anyone, and as soon as the breakthrough in the front-line positions was opened, those German tanks had already rushed to the hinterland of the Soviet army.

It is definitely not a good thing to be surrounded on both wings, and the best way to survive is to get out of it before the encirclement is formed.

"Before packing up the radio, send a telegram to Vatutin! Tell him that Kursk has already broken through, tell him not to go to Sevastopol and wait for me in Kharkov! Zhukov thought about it, remembered Vatutin, and quickly added.

On the car heading south, Vatutin received news of Zhukov's retreat to Kharkov. When he left, the Germans had not yet attacked, but who would have thought that it would take the Germans less than a day to break through the Kursk position?

Fortunately, he had not gone far, and he was on the way: he was going south to Kharkov, where he would make a plane and use a safe rear route to fly to Sevastopol.

"Don't worry about anything, let's go to Kharkov first...... The Kursk mess, we still have to clean it up! He sighed, leaned back in his car seat, and closed his eyes to recuperate.

The driver didn't ask much, just glanced at the signal corpsman who sent the message, started the Mercedes Benz that had been brought all the way from Moscow, and continued south on the bumpy road.

"If Vatutin is not stupid, then he will go to Kharkov first and organize a defense there...... We can buy him at least 5 days or so, and counting the time for the Germans to recuperate, he has at least 10 days......" Zhukov thought about it, and then climbed into the retreating car.

Vatutin was definitely not stupid, he rushed directly to Kharkov with his people, and then began to organize a new line of defense.

On the one hand, he ordered the transfer of all Soviet Air Force planes stationed at the field airfield outside Kharkov to a safer place.

On the other hand, he mobilized the soldiers of the whole city, escorted the men, women and children in the city and began to dig positions to strengthen the defensive line.

Subsequently, this very powerful commander sent the news to Stalingrad. After a brief introduction to the situation, the message focused on the last two words: "Request for support!" ”

……

"Zhukov was also not able to hold out for long in Kursk...... Although he has been there for half a month, there is still a big gap between the time I want him to persevere. Stalin squinted his eyes and looked at his secretary.

It was impossible for Zhukov not to report his retreat, and Vatutin's telegram was still a few hours later than Zhukov's.

Stalin is now past that period of hysteria, and he is now showing the calmness of a mature politician.

Now, in addition to asking about the situation in Chelyabinsk every day, he is constantly tapping the potential of the Caucasus and organizing more troops.

Stalingrad was the last line of defense, and if it became a battlefield, it would be a sign that the Soviet Union might be defeated.

So, Stalin knew that he could not abandon Stalingrad in the same way that he had given up Moscow - he could escape for the Soviet Union once, but he could not escape every time.

Another reason why he did not dare to leave Stalingrad was the fog on the Chelyabinsk side.

Although Beria sent telegrams to Stalingrad every day, Stalin felt that he could not control the distant rear city. For Stalin, the unseeable places were fraught with danger, so he was reluctant to mention Chelyabinsk.

"Kharkiv? Can you hold it? Stalin didn't seem to believe in this promise anymore, and looked at the secretary and asked.

The secretary is not a military savvy, so there is no way to answer such a question. And he is sensitive to the phrase "hold on to a certain city", because the Soviet army has not been able to hold on to any city since the beginning of the war.

Hearing that Sevastopol has strong underground fortifications and also has large grain reserves, it seems like a good place to hold onto.

And that peninsula is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and the defense line is easier to arrange. I've heard it's safer over there, but I've only heard about it.

"The great leader, Comrade Stalin...... Kharkov should ......" After considering the wording, the secretary replied cautiously.

As a result, he was interrupted by Stalin halfway through his speech: "Forget it! You don't have to comfort me! Kharkov could not be held, at most for a few days, and it was the place of the Germans. ”

The desperate Stalin seemed to recognize the facts in front of him, but there was still a lot of unwillingness.

He pinched the telegram, walked around his desk, walked to the map, and looked carefully at Kharkov above.

Vatutin is very trusting, so he attaches great importance to what Vatutin said in the telegram that Kharkov must be kept.

Moreover, for the first time, the confidant will have to support, and he, the great leader of the Soviet Union, is more willing to show his generosity.

"Let the 5th Guards Tank Division, support Kharkov!" Soon, the leader made his choice.

Stalin moved his most elite armored units from Stalingrad to Kharkov to reinforce the front.

This is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the overstretched Soviet front - the 5th Guards Tank Division is strong and well-equipped, and it is clearly the main force of the main forces.

If they also drive to Kharkov, then Zhukov and Vatutin will have 4 Guards tank divisions in their hands.

Four Guards tank divisions, almost 900 tanks, most of which are advanced T-34 models, and their combat effectiveness is amazing.

"Give Vatutin the power to draw infantry from the surrounding strategic reserves and fight to the death with the Germans in Kharkov!" The leader gave instructions for the battle, and the next thing to see if Zhukov and Vatutin had such plans.