The Russian winter offensive lasted five full days before it ended. Except for one attack during the day on the first day, the rest of the attacks were carried out at night in order to avoid a strong German air attack and reduce the casualties of the troops.

But even so, after five days of fierce fighting, the Russian army lost more than 300,000 people. This is also the reason why General Zhukov limited the strength of his attacks. If a fierce attack is launched all day and night, the losses of the Russian army will probably exceed one million people. In that case, it will be another heavy blow to the Russian army.

The Russian army lost more than 300,000 people, but the losses inflicted on the Germans and their allies were minimal. The losses of the Polish Army and the Belarusian Army were not large, which also boosted the morale of these servant troops. The next time they encounter the Russians on a frontal battlefield, they will at least have enough courage to fight them.

General Zhukov is now under tremendous pressure, and although he is in charge of this operation, the political workers are constantly looking for trouble with him, believing that his current behavior is not carrying out Joseph's orders at all. He even constantly overstepped the level and reacted to the political commissar of the front army.

On December 31, General Zhukov received a notification from the command of the Front that Comrade Joseph wanted to see him and asked him to rush to the Kremlin immediately.

In the afternoon of the same day, General Zhukov rushed to the Kremlin on a plane. Although it was very dangerous to fly at this time, there was a possibility that it could be shot down by Luftwaffe fighters. But a long journey in the ice and snow is obviously not as comfortable as doing an airplane.

General Zhukov had good luck and made it all the way to Moscow safely. It was only after dinner that night that he was taken to Joseph's office. And at this time, Marshal Voroshilov and Shaposhnikov were also here.

Joseph's face was a little unpleasant, obviously he already knew that the Russian army was losing troops on the front line, but he was not able to accomplish the goals he had originally envisioned. Originally, Joseph also hoped that the Russian army could carry forward the advantage of not being afraid of freezing, strive to inflict heavy losses on the German army, and no matter how bad it was, it would make the German client state pay a heavy price. However, the final result was heavy losses for the Russian army.

"Comrade Zhukov, do you have anything to say about the front?" Joseph asked.

"Comrade Joseph, I'm sorry that I failed to live up to your expectations." General Zhukov bowed his head, like a schoolboy who had made a mistake.

"Comrade Zhukov, I would like to know why the front is fighting like this?" Joseph said.

General Zhukov thought for a moment, and then said: "Comrade Joseph, this counterattack was too hasty and out of place. ”

Marshal Voroshilov and Shaposhnikov couldn't help but gasp, Zhukov was stunned, he really dared to say anything! Isn't that a blatant accusation against Joseph of indiscriminate command? With Joseph's temper, it was obviously impossible to endure this. They could even guess that the expression on Joseph's face had become very ugly by now, and it was about to erupt.

But, surprisingly, Joseph did not get angry, but seemed to be listening to Zhukov's reasoning.

It was precisely this anomaly that General Zhukov discovered, and then he continued to speak.

"Comrade Joseph, in the early days of the war, we were under heavy attack by the Germans, the army and air force suffered heavy losses, and the navy was now almost completely annihilated. By now, our losses in troops have exceeded three million people. The reason for such great losses was partly because the German army was strong, and partly because the war broke out so suddenly that we were not prepared for it at all. Comparatively speaking, it will naturally be difficult for us to defeat the Germans.

Under such circumstances, we are not rushing to fight back, but taking advantage of the rare respite now to reorganize our troops and prepare for the upcoming Armageddon next year. If I'm not mistaken, the Germans should be looking for next year as the most crucial year to beat us. If we don't be able to withstand the Germans next year, maybe we will be destroyed by them! General Zhukov continued.

"Armageddon? Next year? Joseph couldn't help but frown. He didn't really seem to have thought about it.

"Yes, Comrade Joseph. The Germans have wiped out three million of us through the previous war. And the damage we inflicted on the Germans was very small. Next spring, the Germans will surely launch another large-scale offensive. If you add to this the armies of the client states that the Germans put into the battlefield, the size of the forces they put into their hands would be much larger. In that case, our losses on the battlefield will be even greater. Even if we have sufficient military resources, can we withstand the loss of a few or three million? As long as the Germans destroy us two or three million more, we will be doomed! General Zhukov said.

Joseph's face suddenly became very ugly. It wasn't because Zhukov's words offended him, but because he was really frightened by the scene Zhukov described. He knew that although Russia had a very large number of soldiers, the total number of troops that he knew could be mobilized was only 12 million at most, and if the scale of conscription was enlarged, including the elderly, children, and criminals, it would be only 15 million at most. Now three million have been lost, and if two more three million are lost, how many troops will Russia have left? When the time comes, how will they fend off the attack of the Germans and their client states?

"If we can't withstand the Germans next year, will we lose six million men?" Joseph asked.

"Comrade Joseph, this is entirely possible. In the early days of the war, the Germans wiped out more than two million of our elite in just one month. The Germans will have plenty of time until next spring and winter. So, we have to be prepared for that. Accumulate every ounce of strength and use it for next year's war, rather than wasting it needlessly. In that case, we will be able to secure a favorable situation in next year's war. Zhukov continued.

After Zhukov finished speaking, he looked at Joseph as if waiting for his disposal. He also knew Joseph's character, and knew that he would never accept the opinions of others because of his stubbornness and conceit. Therefore, Zhukov was even ready to be dismissed from his post and exiled to Siberia.