"Comrade Voroshilov, the Finnish army is well trained, familiar with the terrain, and familiar with the harsh local climate. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info is not an easy army to deal with. "Manturov emphasized to his father-in-law the merits of the Finnish army.

"They lack weapons, they have very few troops, they don't have advanced armored units. And we, the Soviet Red Army, had an overwhelming superiority in strength and equipment. It seems to me that even if the enemy is well-trained and familiar with the terrain and climate, he will be easily defeated by us. "Apparently, Voroshilov did not realize the strength of the Finnish army.

"But Kerim, I heard that the people we sent to the front are Red Army soldiers from Central Asia. They are not adapted to the harsh climate of the region, and our army does not have an adequate supply of winter clothing. They were not adapted to fighting in cold forest areas, lacked relevant combat experience, and were easily ambushed by the Finns.

In addition, although our army has a sufficient number of armored and mechanized troops, it is difficult for them to play their due role in the combat environment of the forest, and it is even easy to be approached by the enemy. ”

Kotin, the tank designer in the room, was confident in his work and did not know what the consequences would be if he was approached by the Finns. "Approached by the enemy? What's wrong with that? Even if they get close, it's hard to pose any danger to the tank. ”

"In this way, the Finns will be able to drop incendiary bombs on our tanks, which will most likely be burned to death, and the tank will most likely fall into the hands of the enemy. It seems to me that most of the time our tanks, armored vehicles must be protected by infantry, so that it is more difficult for the enemy to approach and destroy tanks.

Of course, in the event of a breakthrough attack, a large number of armored forces can also be used as a wedge to break through, and at this time, there is no need for infantry to protect at the front. ”

Voroshilov nodded and said, "We will study your proposal." ”

"In addition," Manturov's proposal did not know what had just been said, "the Finns' Mannerheim line on the Karelian Isthmus was very strong, and many of the trenches and pillboxes were located in a relatively hidden position and covered a large area.

Therefore, before we attack, we should investigate the position of their fortifications, and before the attack, we should launch a sustained, large-scale artillery bombardment that lasts for more than 20 hours, destroy their fortifications, and concentrate our forces to break through the Mannerheim Line from the weakest point of the enemy's defense. ”

"Volodya, you know a lot about the Finnish army." Manturov knew far more about the Finns than Voroshilov could have imagined.

"Actually, it's nothing, it's just what I've heard. The specifics still need to be understood by the frontline team. Manturov reminded again: "But after all, war is cruel, it involves human casualties. If it is not handled well, it will lead to a lot of unnecessary casualties. Therefore, we should be cautious about this war and should not take too many risks. ”

Voroshilov nodded again in affirmation, "Volodya, for any war, we will deal with it seriously and carefully, and you don't have to worry about this." ”

Indeed, during the Winter War, Voroshilov did go to the front many times in person and handle problems carefully. However, it is a pity that his military talents are limited, and the war has been deadlocked, and he was eventually deposed and replaced by Timoshenko to command the war.

Voroshilov added: "In addition, we have adopted your suggestions for the logistical supply of our army, including replacing tin-plated rice cookers with stainless steel rice cookers, and increasing the supply of winter clothing. In this way, even Red Army soldiers from Central Asia were able to adapt to the harsh winter in the north. ”

Manturov has already said everything he wants to say. As a deputy minister of construction who stayed behind, he could only say these words at most to avoid unnecessary casualties paid by the Soviet army in the winter war.

As for whether he could turn the tide of the war and change history, he was still not sure, because the Finns were too strong in their will to resist, their marksmanship too good, and their training was so good. The Soviet Union, which started the war as an "aggressor", had a hard time playing with the same blood of the Great Patriotic War in front of the Finns who defended the country.

As for Manturov's proposals, although they were not small in the war, they could only be effective if they were effectively implemented. Otherwise, the results may be no different from those in history.

"Comrade Manturov," Molotov initiated his conversation, "last time you told me in the Kremlin that Germany would be our enemy. ”

"That's right." Manturov admitted this.

"But now a lot of people think that not only will they not be our enemies, but they may be our allies." Molotov said.

"Comrade Molotov, I know what they are thinking. Now the Germans have not only signed the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact with us, but also provided us with a lot of production equipment and military products. If they saw the USSR as an enemy, then why did they do it? This will only strengthen us. ”

"That's right, that's what they, including many Soviet cadres, think. But I and Comrade Stalin both felt that sooner or later they would one day tear up the peace treaty, and I did not expect you to realize this. It seems that your international perspective is indeed very broad. ”

Manturov said: "Comrade Molotov, so far, relations between the Soviet Union and Germany are really good. But those who mistakenly believe that relations between the two countries are good, perhaps do not understand the circumstances under which the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact was signed.

The Germans annexed Austria and annexed Czechoslovakia. This move has attracted the attention of our country and Western countries. In order to avoid the danger of a two-front war caused by the alliance between China and Britain and France, they took the initiative to sign a non-aggression pact with us. ”

In fact, Molotov and Stalin had long since discerned the intentions of the Germans. "That's right, Western countries are on the move and are unwilling to fight Germany with us. In order to prevent Germany from launching a war of aggression against us and to achieve the goal of weakening the capitalist countries of the West, we acceded to the request of the German side to sign a non-aggression pact.

Of course, as you said that day, the essence of the Nazis was **, they repeatedly claimed to destroy the USSR under socialism. We always believe that they who insist on the best position will tear up the contract sooner or later. We thought about this before we signed the contract.

They provide us with production equipment and military products to improve our production level and technical level, while we provide them with oil, manganese, rubber and other resources, provide them with a large number of raw materials for production, and support their production, which is actually an equal trade. There is no imbalance in the improvement of the strength of one side. ”

"We all know this very well that sooner or later the Germans will tear up the treaty," Manturov predicted, "and we must be fully prepared for war before they tear up the treaty."

As for the timing of the war, it seems to me that when they achieve a decisive victory on the Western Front, occupy France, and are in a stalemate with the British across the sea, unable to achieve further warring states, they will point the spearhead of aggression at us. "Manturov made his prophetic prophecy.

Although Germany did not go to war against the USSR until a year after the occupation of France, early preparation was not a bad thing for the USSR.

"Wait until they occupy France." Molotov smiled with satisfaction and said: "As for the preparation for war, it will be handed over to Comrade Voroshilov, as well as you to build the People's Commissariat." ”

"Volodya, you are the first deputy People's Commissar of Construction, how do you plan to develop the construction of the military industry?" Voroshilov asked Manturov.

Manturov replied: "In my opinion, it is necessary to increase the production of tanks, as well as anti-tank equipment, and build more military-industrial facilities in the Volga River basin, the Urals, Siberia, and even in Central Asia, in order to ensure the logistical supply of our army." ”

Voroshilov crossed his legs and said: "However, Comrade Kulik (Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, in charge of ordnance) believes that at the same time, tanks and armored vehicles can never replace horses, and at the same time, the formation of tank units is expensive, automatic weapons such as submachine guns and machine guns consume high ammunition, have low accuracy, and are not as effective as rifles. What do you think? ”

"Krim, let's be honest. I do not agree with Comrade Kulik. Manturov analyzed: "Perhaps, during the (first) world war, Comrade Kulik was right. Because there were not many tanks at that time, the armor was relatively thin and easy to destroy, and the maneuverability of tanks was much worse than that of horses. Of course, it can't replace horses.

But now, the situation is very different. The tank's firepower, armor, and mobility were greatly improved, and the Germans also had a large tank cluster.

If you want to deal with infantry, of course, there is no problem in dispatching cavalry units. But against a tank force with thick armor, fierce firepower, and a large number of tanks, I am afraid that we will not be able to defeat a tank company by dispatching a cavalry division. ”

"Comrade Manturov, you are right, I very much agree with you." As a tank designer, Kotin understands the importance of tank production.

"In my opinion," Manturov continued, "to deal with the enemy's huge tank clusters, we need to produce a sufficient number of tanks and build up a sufficient number of tank units. At the same time, our infantry, artillery, and even the units of the border guards are equipped with a sufficient number of anti-tank weapons.

Otherwise, we will not be able to withstand the attack of the German tank cluster, and then they will be able to quickly occupy Belarus and Ukraine. ”

Historically, although Kulik could not prevent the mass production of tanks, after the tanks were put into production, he repeatedly tried to reduce the materials for the production of T-34 tanks, which led to a decline in the quality of production.

Among other things, he prevented the production of the ZIS-3, an anti-tank assault gun. It was not until February 1942 that the Soviet Red Army officially received this anti-tank weapon. Otherwise, if the Soviet army had been equipped with this anti-tank gun in 1941, the German Barbaros plan might not have been implemented so successfully, and their tanks would have been blown into scrap metal under the muzzle of the ZIS-3.

Better than Manturov had expected, the atmosphere of the discussion that night was not as bad as he had expected, and neither Kotin nor Molotov made any unfavorable remarks against him.

Perhaps Kotin saw the face of the two Politburo members and did not dare to tear up Manturov, the People's Commissar, in public.

But from Molotov's expression, Manturov only saw that he admired and agreed with himself, and did not have any intention of criticizing himself. If he can seize this opportunity and have a good relationship with Molotov, Manturov's future officialdom will be even easier.