During the all-day offensive on the 16th, the losses suffered by the Soviet troops were unacceptable.

The German Central Assault Group used a steel-like defensive line to tell the Russians what a real war is.

Yes, these Russians are not afraid of death, at least from the first minute they set foot on the battlefield. But as more and more companions die and more casualties appear, the fear inherent in human beings will inevitably appear.

Who is really not afraid of death?

Over the course of the day, the casualties of the Soviet Terek Corps amounted to a staggering 12,000 men. And the losses of the Germans were extremely minor.

This is nothing short of a naked massacre.

Of course, this does not mean that the combat effectiveness of the German army has reached such a terrible level, but that the unchanged charging mode of the Soviet army has given them such brilliant results.

The Germans had fully understood the pattern of the Russian offensive......

Before the start of the battle, there was a round of artillery fire, and then, the agitated Russian soldiers, would desperately charge with the tactics of crowds.

They had no idea how to escape the enemy's dense rain of bullets, so they took their bodies to meet the baptism of bullets......

It's not a war, it's simply a death.

The evening breeze whimpered, as if mourning for those who died. The cannonballs were still streaking across the night sky with a terrible whistling sound......

Commandos are constantly appearing on the battlefield...... The night is their chance to disguise their best......

Snipers love the night equally. They hid in the dark, guns in hand, patiently waiting for the next target to appear. Maybe they didn't get anything out of one night. Maybe they can take out many enemies in one night......

The officers were taking stock of their losses and re-directing the repair of their positions in anticipation of a new battle after daylight tomorrow......

Everybody is busy, mechanical. They don't need to be instructed by their superiors to know what they should do at this time.

The losses were not very large, at least for the medium assault cluster, but Wang Weiyi did not dare to take it lightly.

He knows it well. Today's all-day fighting was not the main attacking force of the Soviet army. Rather, it was to prevent the assault of the Medium Assault Cluster from forcibly crossing the Terek River, and the Russians launched an attack on their own initiative.

He did not think that the Russians were right to do so, and the Assault Group had no intention of forcing the Terek River at all......

"An even more brutal battle will probably start tomorrow...... "After inspecting his troops, Wang Weiyi said in a low voice: "Our aerial reconnaissance shows." A large number of Russians will be able to reach the battlefield tomorrow. Unlike today's battle, tomorrow we will face attacks from all sides......"

"The soldiers are ready, marshal." Helbert. Gillette always seemed so confident: "We are capable of defeating any enemy attack." ”

"Marshal. Secret information just got. "At this time. De Sade, who had already turned into the head of intelligence of the Ernst battle group, walked over with a secret piece of information in his hand: "The Soviets suddenly changed their generals. Yevremovich. Marshal Voroshilov served as commander-in-chief of the former enemy. ”

"Who?" Wang Weiyi was stunned.

"Kliment. Yevremovich. Voroshilov! ”

Wang Weiyi was stunned again, and then laughed loudly: "Okay, good!" Even God is helping us! Whether it is Malinovsky or Davamirsky, these people are actually very good Russian generals who have experienced a hundred battles. Their presence has always been a huge threat to us......"

"However, we have only just repelled them." General Gillette was a little unconvinced.

Wang Weiyi smiled and said, "My general." It's not the same. Although Davamirsky did not stop us, and Malinovsky was not able to break through our positions, you cannot deny their superiority. They know how to adjust their thinking to the sudden changes on the battlefield, and they also try to change their combat mode during the battle, which has been very obvious this afternoon, the Russians are no longer so frantically attacking with their bodies. But this Klimement. Yevremovich. Comrade Marshal Voroshilov is different! ”

His smile looked so bright: "What kind of person are you blocking this Comrade Marshal Voroshilov?" Ah, his nickname was 'Marshal Red', which certainly did not refer to his firm faith. It is undeniable that he was quite brave when he fought, but he was not worthy of being a marshal at all, at best a colonel. Yes, colonel, when a colonel faithfully carries out the orders of his superiors and commands a regiment he is still qualified. ”

Wang Weiyi's words were full of contempt: "My generals, this Comrade Marshal Voroshilov, who was born as a fitter and boasted of himself as a 'red revolutionary fitter', is not a real military strategist, but just a martial artist. In his political and military career, he was not as diligent and tireless as Molotov, not as good at organization as Kaganovich, not as familiar with the inside of officialdom as Malenkov, not as advanced in Zhdanov's theory, not as shrewd and capable as Khrushchev, and had many ideas, but what made him different was that he obeyed orders and listened to commands, climbed up the ladder on the heads of other senior Red Army generals, and actively participated in the criminal activities of suppressing high-ranking military cadres. He publicly admits his insignificance and praises Stalin's military genius, openly declaring Stalin to be the founder, organizer, and inspiration of the Soviet Red Army, and 'the greatest man on our planet'...... It was precisely because he was actively involved in the purge of the Red Army generals that Stalin needed this kind of 'red marshal' that he was able to maintain a high position in the party, government, and military bloc for a long time......."

The German generals looked at each other and listened with relish.

Wang Weiyi threw this topic to DeSade: "General DeSade, when you were working for France. You must have studied this red marshal very thoroughly, right? ”

"Yes, we carefully studied all the high-ranking generals of the Soviet army." De Sade showed no modesty: "Voroshilov participated in almost all the purges of the USSR. During the Great Purge of 1936-38 in the Soviet Union, the doors of the bloody purgatory created by Stalin were opened. Voroshilov did not hesitate to ignite the flames of brutal repression. He was directly involved in the killing of 5,000 mid-level commanders, and their families were subjected to inhuman suffering. Numerous messages were sent by which he approved arrest and execution, among which the famous ones were Khabarov Haque, Blyukher, A. 88, Trial; Sverdlovsk, Gorbachev. A. 39, arrest permitted; Polar, Commander of the Arctic Fleet Wing. A. 212, to judge and give due punishment; Tbilisi, Kuibyshev, Apse, A344. Tried and shot...... And that's not all. Even his closest first deputy, Deputy People's Commissar of National Defense, I. Fee. Fediko and Colonel-de-Camp Langovoy begged him to rescue them before they were arrested and executed, and he did not even have the courage to stand up and say a word of justice for them...... This shows that his conscience was dead long before his physical death......"

De Sade's brain remembered all the information like a database: "On November 29, 1938, Voroshilov made a report at a military conference: 'In the purges of the Red Army in 1937-38, we eliminated more than 40,000 people; And in the middle of 10 months of 1938, we promoted more than 100,000 new commanders in accordance with Comrade Stalin's supreme instruction to 'learn to attach importance to talents and cadres'. ”

"Forty thousand, these are the best officers in the Soviet army." Wang Weiyi also sighed involuntarily: "Promoted 100,000 new commanders? These 100,000 people are not at all on the same level as the 40,000 commanders who were purged by him, if those 40,000 Soviet commanders were still there. Perhaps war is not the way it is now...... In the Soviet-Finnish war, it was because of Voroshilov's incompetence. and the lack of truly excellent military commanders in the Soviet army caused the Soviet army's fiasco in the early stage. Well, now Voroshilov has actually come here, this is God is helping us, let's avenge the 40,000 Soviet souls who died in the Soviet Union! ”

The German generals looked at each other and smiled. Marshal Ernst's words were really humorous, the Germans actually wanted to avenge the Russians.

Wang Weiyi did not understand that Vasilevsky could not have been unaware of Voroshilov's incompetence, and that Voroshilov, at an enlarged meeting of the Supreme Military Council of the USSR after the end of the Soviet-Finnish war, Mekhlis, director of the General Political Department, openly criticized his mistakes in command in a long speech based on Stalin's intentions. The meeting decided to dismiss him from his post as People's Commissar of National Defense. Healthy. Timoshenko succeeded him, and he became deputy chairman of the Soviet People's Committee. Timoshenko assumed command of the High Command, and Zhukov was entrusted with the heavy responsibility of leading the General Staff.

After the outbreak of the Soviet-German war, Voroshilov was sent to the Western Front, but failed to stop the frantic offensive of the German army. Voroshilov was recalled to Moscow to lead the defense of the North-Western Front; After that, he was sent to Leningrad, where he was assigned to inspect the training of the Red Army reserves in the military districts of Moscow, Volga, Central Asia and the Urals. These are undoubtedly demoted uses.

But now, how could he suddenly appear on the frontal battlefield and take on such an important job as the commander-in-chief of such a former enemy?

Seriously, Wang Weiyi is puzzled by this point.

In the same way, Vasilevsky was powerless to deal with sudden changes.

He received such an appointment suddenly, and the order was issued directly by Comrade Stalin, which gave Vasilevsky no chance to resist at all.

If Voroshilov were to command a division, or even an army group, Vasilevsky did not have any opinion, and with his bravery he was completely competent. But to let him command so many front-line troops is far beyond his ability.

"The order issued by Comrade Stalin personally, we are completely unable to refuse, Comrade Voroshilov has already reached the front." Khrushchev was also at a loss for what this order came from Moscow: "Comrade Commander-in-Chief, you don't have to ask me, I don't know why such a thing could happen......

Vasilevsky's brows were tightly locked. He believed that Khrushchev did not know what was going on, and that the only thing he hoped for now was. It was Voroshilov who was able to follow his own operational guidelines, instead of blindly sacrificing the lives of Red Army officers and men in exchange for a slim victory......

Perhaps, this change of commander will be a turning point on the battlefield......

But. And what can Vasilevsky do? No one can disobey the orders of Comrade Stalin......

At this time, Voroshilov had reached the front line, and Voroshilov was complacent about his reactivation, but he also saw it clearly that this might be the last opportunity he could grasp!

What exactly happened in the middle, Voroshilov knew best......

The commanders of the Soviet army were all called together. There was a shudder in all of them about the marshal who was notorious in the Great Purge.

Voroshilov did not show any affection to the commanders, and he harshly criticized a series of "mistakes" made by the Soviet commanders in the previous battles. Then he said impassionedly:

"Opposite us, the German fascist army, which is far inferior to us in numbers, will organize the most powerful artillery fire, the most powerful forces. Under the guidance of Comrade Stalin. Annihilate this German fascist force and usher in the greatest victory for the Soviets! Therefore, I will command you to attack with the bravest spirit! ”

The commanders of the Soviet army looked at each other, how can they be considered to attack with the most courageous spirit?

Davamirsky, despite his fear of Voroshilov, out of loyalty to his faith, stood up and said: "Comrade Marshal Voroshilov, I have no doubt in the slightest that we will achieve the most victorious victory. But the combat effectiveness of the German army should not be underestimated. I've fought with them, and they have powerful armoured forces. Powerful artillery fire and powerful firepower ......"

"Comrade Davamirsky!" Voroshilov interrupted him harshly: "No fear is worthy of being a commander of the Red Army, let alone a high-ranking commander?" All superior weapons are paper tigers, and the spirit of not being afraid of sacrifice will win us all victories! Your defeat in Krasnodar is a good proof of this. In the face of the enemy's charge, we must crush them with a more ferocious charge! When you don't have that spirit, you won't be able to bring victory to your troops! ”

The humiliated Davamirsky tried to argue with his arguments, but Straf, who had also suffered defeat in front of the Germans, quietly pulled him......

Davamirsky sighed inwardly, and then sat down slowly. He thanked Starav for his kindness, and knew what would happen if he continued to drink Voroshilov and argue.

Voroshilov, who was completely under control of the situation, said with satisfaction: "Tomorrow will be the day when the outcome will be decided, and tomorrow, I will completely defeat the German fascists." Comrade Davamirsky, Comrade Strav! ”

Davamirsky and Strav stood up at once.

"You have suffered defeat at the hands of the Germans, and I will give you the opportunity to wash away your shame." Voroshilov behaved very earnestly: "You must know that shame can only be washed away on the battlefield. So, the 56th Army and the 81st Panzer Army will act as the leading forces of the whole army! ”

For the battle, Davamirsky and Strav were not afraid, but Strav said: "Comrade Marshal Voroshilov, I am glad that you were able to give us such an opportunity. But in the case of the 81st Panzer Army, we lost a large number of tanks in previous battles, and we urgently need to replenish ......"

"Comrade Strave, as I said earlier, weapons are not omnipotent!" Voroshilov looked a little displeased: "The sacrifice of the soldiers is the main thing!" Lack of tanks? Then use them as infantry! The Germans are in an encirclement, their ammunition is limited, each soldier bears one bullet on his body, and we can also exhaust the ammunition of the German army! ”

All the Soviet generals listened stupidly.

"Every soldier bears one bullet on his body, and we can also drain the ammunition of the German army!" What kind of operational theory is this?

Straf, who still wanted to theorize, was quietly pulled by Davamirsky this time......

．．．．．．

As he came out of the conference room, Strav let out a long sigh, "We're all going to die here." ”

"yes, we're all going to die here." Davamirsky repeated his words: "To use armored troops as infantry to charge is simply suicide." Comrade Sdaraf, in tomorrow's battle, my 56th Army will rush to the front, and your troops will take on the task of covering support. ”

Strav was grateful for the kindness of the other party, and he knew that Davamirsky was trying to prevent his troops from dying in vain.

However, Voroshilov would never allow such a thing to happen.

"I'm more afraid of my reputation than death." Strav looked at the night sky in distraction: "If he finds out that I am not attacking, I will be removed from my post and then sent to court-martial." Comrade Davamirsky, I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of being judged by my own comrades and then being thrown into the pillar of shame in history. ”

Davamirsky was silent there, yes, who doesn't think so? But there is nothing they can do to change this, they can't even control their own destiny, and that's their sorrow.

The question is, which damn one moved Comrade Stalin to get Voroshilov back on the battlefield! (To be continued......)