Moscow.

The defeat in the Battle of Kharkov plunged Moscow into a panic.

They can hide it from their people, but no one knows the truth of the war better than the top leaders. They can't hide it from themselves.

The defeat in the Battle of Kharkov wiped out the vast majority of the 450,000 Soviet troops, and if the German army took advantage of the situation at this time to drive straight in, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Stalin was furious, constantly accusing Marshal Timoshenko and the Soviet commanders in Kharkov of betraying his trust.

Then came the terrible assault and defense of the Sevastopol fortress, in which another 270,000 Soviet troops were killed, captured and missing.

What a terrible disaster it was for the Soviet army to lose more than 700,000 troops in two battles? Even if the USSR had a large population, such losses would be difficult to digest for a while.

The shadow of defeat seems to be somewhat hanging over Moscow

The Germans were also temporarily unable to launch a large-scale offensive. They also desperately needed to recuperate after two major battles. Zhukov still saw it relatively clearly, and he explained the current situation on the battlefield in one sentence: "Although the Germans performed very well, they are not real war machines after all. I don't think they're going to launch a new offensive in the next three months, we have some time to adjust. ”

"Adjust the time? Organise another million troops, and then be wiped out by the Germans? Stalin said with a cold look in his eyes.

Zhukov and Vasilevsky looked at each other, and this was not what a Supreme Commander-in-Chief should have said at this time

But no one dared to oppose Comrade Stalin

"Someone has to take responsibility for this failure!" Stalin said coldly.

But. It's also a bit tricky. The current Russians still think that the Battle of Kharkov is a brilliant victory for the Soviet army, but they did not expect it at all. In the Kharkov and Sevastopol fortresses, more than 700,000 Soviet troops were all destroyed.

Is there a responsibility? How to go and talk to your own people?

Stalin walked there irritably, and suddenly stopped: "What about Timoshenko? Where is he now? Was he killed by the Germans, or did he commit suicide? ”

"We have no news yet from Marshal Timoshenko, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky said cautiously.

"If he died heroically, I can forgive him for this defeat." Stalin's words make people shudder.

"Comrade Stalin, Marshal Timoshenko has news" at this time. Chairman of the State People's Security Committee of the USSR, that is, head of the Main Directorate of State Security Lavrenty. Pavlovich. Beria walked in.

In a word, it attracted everyone's attention to the past.

"How is he doing now? Did you find his body? "In Stalin's mind. Marshal Timoshenko had already died, and he had to die primarily.

Other than that, he can't accept any end!

"No, Comrade Stalin," Beria said cautiously, "not only did he not die in battle. And he's about to return to Moscow! ”

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely solemn

Stalin did not say a word. He put his pipe in his mouth and kept smoking it.

This is the time when everyone is most afraid!

After a while, there was no expected thunderstorm. Stalin said slowly: "Tell me what is going on. ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Beria, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately said: "Everything is with him, as well as the Chief of Staff of the South-Western Front, Comrade Volvok, and the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Comrade Berekov, as well as some officers and soldiers. They were picked up by our defense forces. It is said that they were picked up and broke out. ”

"Catch the breakout?" Stalin set his eyes on Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, did we send a receiving force in Kharkov?" ”

"Nope. Comrade Stalin. Although the situation was a little bad for Zhiludao, Zhukov could only answer honestly; After the outbreak of the Battle of Kharkov. It is very difficult for us to continue to send reinforcements, and we have not sent any reinforcements until the end of the fighting. ”

Stalin sneered: "Then I'm very strange, where did the receiving troops come from?" Can you tell me, Lavrendi. Pavlovich. Comrade Beria? ”

Beria smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid that Comrade Deputy Chief Dimilenko will be able to answer you, he figured out the whole thing at the first time." ”

With Stalin's consent, the deputy head of the Main State Security Service, Dimilenko, walked in, and Beria glanced at him: "Talk to Comrade Stalin, Comrade Dimilenko." ”

"Yes, Comrade Beria." Dimilenko perked up: "According to my investigation, this is what happened. At that time, the Germans had already launched a frontal offensive in Kharkov, and our troops were surrounded, and at this time, there was a major named Laskimir, who was said to have led the special team of the General Directorate of State Security, to tear a big gap in the German encirclement, and then successfully rescued Marshal Timoshenko and some others"

"Laskimir? The Special Einsatzgruppen of the General Directorate of National Security? Stalin frowned: "Comrade Beria, Comrade Dimilenko, do you have such an organization?" ”

"No, never." Beria and Dimilenko replied at the same time.

"Ah, comrades, then I find it very strange." Stalin's words are full of sarcasm: "Can any of you tell me where a contingent that does not exist at all came from?" Or was it that some of our comrades risked their lives to rescue the respected Comrade Marshal Timoshenko without permission? ”

No one answered, and it was a bit strange

A shadow rose in the hearts of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, who faintly sensed that something was wrong.

Marshal Timoshenko is in big trouble.

"Comrades." Stalin's voice continued to ring in their ears: "Let's imagine that so many valiant Soviet fighters were surrounded and could not break through, and our Marshal Timoshenko managed to break through the encirclement, what is this for? Can we imagine that there was something inside the story between him and the Germans that we don't know? ”

Zhukov and Vasilevsky shuddered, and once such a charge was convicted by Comrade Stalin, then Marshal Timoshenko would probably have a catastrophe.

Zhukov still dared to argue with Stalin, he felt that at this time it was necessary to excuse Marshal Timoshenko: "Comrade Stalin, maybe this is a conspiracy of the Germans? ”

"Conspiracy?" Stalin's eyes fell on him: "My comrade chief of staff, I sincerely ask you, what kind of conspiracy of the Germans is this?" ”

Zhukov did not pay attention to the sarcasm of Stalin's words: "Do you think that the Germans did this on purpose, so that we might be suspicious of Marshal Timoshenko?" ”

"My comrade chief of staff, you are probably the best commander on the battlefield, how can you say such childish and ridiculous things?" Stalin did not give his chief of the General Staff any affection: "If you were the commander of the enemy, would you let go of a marshal?" Ah, do we just make us suspicious and distrust him? Did you tell you to do that? ”

Zhukov was speechless, and although Comrade Stalin's words were very unkind, what he said was not unreasonable. How could any enemy choose to do this?

That's a marshal!

But to say that Marshal Timoshenko had collusion with the Germans, Zhukov would not have believed it in any way.

That's such a loyal Bolshevik!

"Comrade Beria, what do you think should be done?" Some of Stalin's thoughts would not have been uttered by himself.

"Arrest him and make him confess all his crimes, and why we will fail this time! Was he in collusion with the Germans? Was this battle deliberately lost in order to betray our great Motherland? ”

Beria's words without the slightest hesitation were frightening.

Zhukov knew very well that Stalin must not be allowed to nod, otherwise there would be no room for redemption, and he hurriedly preemptively said: "I am against it, Comrade Stalin. ”

"Look, look, our Comrade Chief of the General Staff has the point of opposition again." Stalin sneered: "Well, let's hear about it." ”

Zhukov boldly said: "Comrade Stalin, for the sake of political propaganda, the Soviet people do not yet know the truth about the battle of Kharkov, and if Marshal Timoshenko is arrested at this time, it will be tantamount to telling everyone that we have failed." This may shake the resolve of the Soviet people to resist. ”

Stalin was silent, and that was what he was concerned about

The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop on the floor

After a while, Stalin finally said slowly: "Marshal Timoshenko has returned to Moscow with the glory of victory, and I will personally greet and present a medal for his great contribution to the Soviets in the Battle of Kharkov." ”

Zhukov and Vasilevsky closed their eyes in pain, knowing what was going to happen next.

There's nothing more brutal than knocking people from the peak to the bottom.

"As for the after." Stalin glanced at Beria and Dimilenko: "Comrade Beria, Comrade Timilenko, I need to know what happened to Marshal Timoshenko in Kharkov, you can bring him to you for interrogation. ”

Comrades Beria and Dimilenko straightened up:

"Yes, we will definitely find the truth!" (To be continued.) For mobile phone users, please go to read. )