Chapter 255 Surrounding the spot to fight for aid
Anufryevich finally ordered Colonel Katukov to command two tank brigades to go up to block the German attack.
Of course, it is said that there are two tank brigades, but the total number of tanks is only 70, and most of them are light tanks, which are not as powerful as the enemy's tank regiment.
Then the results of the reconnaissance came out, and the enemy was an armored division, that is, the 11th Armored Division and the 106th Infantry Regiment.
Major General Anufryevich hurriedly reported the news to his superiors, and after more than an hour of waiting, the Supreme Command finally issued the order to retreat.
"They finally admitted their mistake!" Major Anufryevich muttered in a low voice, but no one could hear what he said.
What Anufrievich said is that another meaning of the Supreme Command's order to retreat is to admit that the counterattack plan has been completely bankrupt... The counterattack in the direction of Serpukhov has suffered heavy casualties before it is launched. Volokola Although Musk attacked Tver with a line of defense, he had to retreat in the face of being surrounded.
So, apart from the loss of a lot of equipment, troops and morale of the troops, it can be said that there is nothing to gain.
The troops began to retreat to Volokolamsk in a steady stream. At this time, the German army divided into several directions to attack so that the tank troops commanded by Katukov were overwhelmed... Of course, the number of tanks in Katukov's hands is small, and it is impossible to divide the troops, otherwise It is easy to be defeated by the enemy one by one.
So, the retreat of the Soviet army to Volokolamsk was quickly cut off, and nearly 20,000 people were trapped in the encirclement.
West Front Army Headquarters, when Zhukov frowned and thought about how to face the situation in front of him, the phone rang.
The call was made by Stalin, who asked to talk to Zhukov by name.
This surprised Zhukov a little, because Bulganin had been contacted by his superiors before, and then Bulganin gave orders to himself.
After Zhukov picked up the phone to identify himself, Stalin's voice rang on the other end of the phone: "Do you think we can hold Moscow? I feel a little heavy! As a party member, please make an objective evaluation of the current situation at this time !"
Although these words did not admit anything, there is no doubt that Stalin had given up hope for the situation in front of him.
Although the Soviet army fought vigorously in the Volokolamsk area, the recovery of Tver was a complete failure. Not only did Moscow fail to get through the railway line to obtain reinforcements and equipment from Leningrad, but it lost the last reserve force... in Tver The 20,000 people who were surrounded were only part of it. The Soviet army invested 100,000 people in this counterattack plan and deployed advanced and scarce equipment, such as "Katyusha" rocket launchers and anti-tank squeezed out from various defensive troops. gun.
But now, except for the few thousand people left in the direction of Serpukhov and the main force of the fourth tank brigade who did not leave Tver as ordered, there are only 20,000 people surrounded in Tver.
"Yes!" Zhukov replied: "I firmly believe that we can hold Moscow!"
After a pause, Zhukov added another sentence: "However, I need to increase the strength of at least 2 army groups and 200 tanks!"
"Very good!" Stalin replied: "You call the General Staff and discuss the assembly points of the two army groups you want. I will give you these troops, but it will take some time, but there are still no tanks. You Be sure to persevere!"
Then Stalin hung up the phone.
Soon, Bulganin received a call from the Supreme Command, and then he said to Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, the Supreme Command ordered me to obey your orders and assist you in command!"
In other words, the command returned to Zhukov again.
Zhukov didn't dare to neglect, he called Rokossovsky with one call and asked: "How is the situation, I will command you now!"
The second half of the sentence seems to be nonsense, because the 16th Army has always been commanded by the Western Front, that is, Zhukov.
But Rokossovsky understood the meaning of these words, so he immediately replied: "The situation is not good, Comrade General! We are now facing two difficulties!"
"What difficulty?"
"The first thing is whether we want to rescue Tver!" Rokossovsky said: "The Germans don't seem to be in a hurry to completely close the encirclement, nor are they in a hurry to annihilate the besieged troops. You know what they want to do!"
"Yes!" Zhukov nodded.
Obviously, this is the strategy of the Germans to "siege around and fight for aid". They hope to lure the Soviet army to reinforce Tver, and the Soviet army has only one unit capable of reinforcing Tver...the fourth tank brigade.
"Another difficulty?" Zhukov asked.
"We can no longer implement the 'see-saw tactics' as before!" Rokossovsky replied.
Zhukov immediately understood why.
The essence of "see-saw tactics" is to retreat when you are weak during the day, and counterattack at night when the enemy's air force is unable to play a role.
But now, Tver has been surrounded by the German army and the main force of the 316th Division and the 4th Tank Brigade is still retreating as planned... which means giving up hope of rescue Tver!
So Zhukov also fell into a dilemma.
To save or not to save?
Rescue, it is very likely not only that no one can be rescued, but more people will be trapped in the encirclement.
No rescue, it was a force of 20,000 people, in addition to the "Katyusha" that the Soviet army was in short supply, anti-tank guns, and even dozens of T34s.
You must know that even the T34s of the Fourth Tank Brigade are not fully equipped at this time. These dozens of T34s and 20,000 people are likely to be the last pillar of the entire Soviet defense line.
Of course, this is the responsibility of the Supreme Command, and their counterattack plan is simply to send these scarce equipment into the enemy's encirclement.
But this is not the time to pursue responsibility, and of course there is no way to pursue responsibility.
After thinking for a while, Zhukov ordered: "You ask for the Italian construction of the Fourth Tank Brigade, and I want to know whether they are sure to rescue them!"
"Yes, Comrade General!" Rokossovsky replied.
But having said that, Rokossovsky knew in his heart... Zhukov's so-called "consultation from the Fourth Tank Brigade" was actually not talking about the Fourth Tank Brigade, but the "breakout hero" Shulka.
Of course, as a general, Zhukov certainly would not say to his subordinates: "Ask that Shulka and see what he can do!"
If you say this, Zhukov, a general, is also the commander of the Western Front Army and can even be said to be the commander of the entire Moscow defense battle.
So, Rokossovsky took a few guards and drove to the front-line headquarters in a car.
(end of this chapter)
