Steel Soviet Union

"It has been found that the enemy's 2nd Armored Group led by General Guderian of German Army Group Center has moved southward towards the Ukrainian theater. At the same time, a large number of troops belonging to Army Group Center are moving towards Leningrad in the north. The number and number of the troops are temporarily Unknown, pending further verification.”

Although this intelligence cable from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow only contains such a short sentence, it can be described as extremely important to Zhukov's command decision-making and significance.

Zhukov put away the telegraph newspaper that still smelled of ink in his hand properly. After a moment, he raised his head again with the most determined look in his eyes.

"Comrades, I have just received intelligence from Moscow. The enemy's 2nd Armored Group, the vanguard of the German enemy we are facing, has begun to move south towards the Ukrainian theater. Army Group Center has also deployed a large number of troops to support Leningrad in the north. We are fighting in the Yelnya theater, and our enemies have no time to worry about anything else!”

"This is an extremely important opportunity for us. It is a great opportunity to completely defeat the enemy and regain lost ground! We must completely wipe out the German military presence in the Yelnya theater before the enemy's main force returns to support. Get rid of it and fulfill our own strategic intentions.”

"The 24th Group Army and the 43rd Group Army immediately prepared for a general offensive. The direction of the attack is expected to be at the weak base positions of the German army in the northeast and southeast of the protrusion of the Yelniya Theater! Our face-to-face enemy will soon be There are no more reserve reinforcements to dispatch, now we have a partial strength advantage! Comrades, victory will definitely belong to our great Red Army!”

Zhukov was indeed good at preparing for mobilization before the war. This kind of argument, combined with the current situation, hinted to his senior commanders and fighters that "the German army is at the end of its war effort." After combined with impassioned speeches and impassioned speeches, Zhukov was able to It is hoped to inspire military morale.

This pre-war decision-making meeting determined that the reserve front army would immediately launch a general offensive on the Yelnya theater after a short preparation period. Soon, senior Red Army commanders and combatants under the reserve front army took the lead. And the journey ended successfully.

Just as Zhukov, who had just chaired the meeting, came to the battle map and was about to look for the possible direction from which the German army would break out after being outflanked by the Red Army in the Yelniya theater, a hurried-looking second lieutenant of the messenger came. At this moment, he quietly came to Zhukov's side.

"Comrade Commander, Major Malashenko and his First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, who were transferred from the Western Front to support reinforcements, have arrived in Gzadsk. The First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion is resting and ready in the suburbs. Malashenko The major has led his deputy, Captain Lavrinenko, to report to the front headquarters. What are your instructions?"

It was Zhukov's personal order to have Malashenko come to the Reserve Front Headquarters to report.

For this young tank major who had been praised and affirmed by his old classmate Rokossovsky and even the old Marshal Timoshenko of the Red Army, Zhukov, who had only heard about him but not seen him, had a deep impression of Malashenko. It can be said that I am very curious and want to see it in person.

"Bring them both here, I will meet them here, and remember to treat our tank heroes with enough respect."

After hearing the order from Zhukov, he was obviously stunned for a moment. The somewhat confused second lieutenant quickly returned to normal and followed the order.

"Understood, Comrade Commander, I will make arrangements right away."

About a few minutes later, when Malashenko and Lavrinenko, who had rushed all the way and didn't even have time to wash their faces, appeared in front of Zhukov, they saluted loudly and reported in unison. Almost at the same time, a loud voice sounded in Zhukov's ears.

"Comrade Commander, the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion of the 16th Army of the former Western Front has been ordered to report. The battalion commander, Major Malashenko, and the deputy battalion commander, Captain Lavrinenko, have completed their reports. I wish you good health!"

The ancient Chinese believed that "the face is born from the heart", and the true truth contained in this is that a person's core inner spirit can be roughly seen just by looking at his face, demeanor and expression.

Looking at the two young tank soldiers in front of me who raised their hands in salute, their faces were dusty but still energetic, especially the slightly different but indescribable specialness exuded by Malashenko. Feeling that Zhukov was basically convinced that his old classmates Rokossovsky and Marshal Timoshenko were correct, he immediately smiled in return, pointed to the two chairs next to him and spoke quietly.

"Everyone, sit down, young heroes who defend the motherland. Let's sit down and talk slowly."

Compared with the resolute-looking portraits in the old black-and-white photos of later generations, Malashenko was much more shocked when he saw General Zhukov, who was later recognized as the "Red Army God of War", in person for the first time.

From the battle against the White Army to defend the new red regime, through various battles large and small, his resolute face has been weathered.

But even so, there is still no sign of aging on the face of this legendary Red Army general who is as legendary as the God of War. The only expression revealed from this resolute face is trust that is enough to make people deeply impressed.

Seeing General Zhukov himself was like seeing victory and hope. This inexplicable peace of mind temporarily diluted Malashenko's anxiety about whether he would be transferred to Kiev in the future, which made the young and restless heart My mind instantly became much calmer.

After Zhukov himself temporarily put down what he was doing, he sat down on an equal footing with Malashenko and Lavrinenko.

This Red Army God of War, who also came from a poor family and started as an ordinary soldier, relied on his outstanding talents and abilities to finally reach the position of today's Soviet hero step by step. Finally, he faced the two Malashenkos. Speak slowly.

"I understand that you fought very hard in the first phase of the Yelniya battle. The crew and equipment of the first heavy tank breakthrough battalion were almost completely replaced compared to the lineup when it just entered the battle."

"It is inappropriate to transfer you who are resting to the front line again under such difficult and heavy losses, but the second phase of the battle in the Yelnya theater must have a tank unit that acts as a sharp breakthrough."

"What awaits you will be the desperate resistance of the enemy's trapped German troops. The upcoming battle will be more tragic than the previous one."

"Now, are you still determined to complete the mission?"