Chapter 157 Debate
"Since the fortifications on both wings of Kursk are expected to be completed in the near future," Zhdanov asked before Stalin could respond to Yuri's brief report, "Ivan Stepanovich's troops are basically in place, so should we make corresponding plans for the offensive in the Kursk direction?"
Yuri glanced at him. This guy who always combed his hair spotlessly was obviously not someone who was easy to deal with. In Stalin's ruling team, Zhdanov occupied a very important position. He was not only Stalin's assistant, but also Stalin's relative, and at the same time, he was Stalin's opponent .
Since Kirov was assassinated, Zhdanov has taken over all power in Leningrad. Originally, Stalin arranged him to Leningrad in the hope that he could unify the powerful and unobedient political forces in Leningrad. However, after a massive purge, Zhdanov not only failed to eliminate the political forces that were outside the central Moscow, but instead unified them together to form a political force with him as the core. The German blockade of Leningrad raised Zhdanov's prestige in Leningrad to an unprecedented level, which probably made Stalin suspicious.
"The battle plan for Kursk does not include any offensive content in the short term." Yuri did not have any fear of Zhdanov, because he believed that the more conflicts he had with Zhdanov, the more Stalin would trust him. This was a political consideration and had nothing to do with military issues.
"It doesn't include any offensive content? Is your plan to passively defend in Kursk?" Zhdanov asked, his tone already revealing his full dissatisfaction.
"Yes, Comrade Andrei Alexandrovich, I'm afraid that in the short term, this is our plan," Yuri looked at Stalin, who had an expressionless face, and said calmly, "We need the Germans to launch the first attack and wear them down in defense. Only then will it be time for us to launch a counterattack."
"Then, Comrade Yuri Arkhipovich, please tell me, when will the German attack launch?" Zhdanov asked in annoyance.
"Before the next winter," Yuri answered without hesitation.
"Before the next winter? It's only March now!" Zhdanov roared in anger.
Zhukov obviously did not expect Yuri to be so tough in front of Zhdanov. He looked at Yuri in surprise and explained for him: "I think Comrade Yuri Arkhipovich meant that the German offensive will be officially launched in the summer, because in the German concept, our offensive is seasonal, which means that we can only defeat the Germans if we attack in winter."
"But who can be sure that the German offensive plan is in the direction of Kursk?" Zhdanov said angrily, "What about Leningrad? Leningrad is such an important strategic target, won't it be the main target of their summer offensive? As far as I know, their current offensive in Schlusselburg is very fierce. Two divisions, no, at least two divisions of German troops are launching an offensive against our defense line there."
Yuri did not speak. He did not think it was the right time for him to speak. There was no need for him to explain the idea of the Battle of Kursk to Zhdanov unless Stalin asked him to do so.
Facing the quarrel between Yuri and Zhdanov, Stalin's attitude was very ambiguous. He didn't even say a word from beginning to end. Looking at his serious expression, it seemed as if he was considering who was right in the conversation between the two. However, no one could tell what he was really thinking in his heart.
"Comrade Andrei Alexandrovich, we have not found any abnormal large-scale German ," Zhukov explained again, "that is to say, the current battles in Leningrad...Schlusselburg area were all launched by the German combat group of Mgar. In terms of military strength, the General Staff believes that the current military strength in Leningrad is sufficient to defend against the German attack."
"Just because we haven't found any unusual German troop movements doesn't mean they haven't moved," Zhdanov said loudly. "The only definite information we have is that the Germans are launching an offensive towards Leningrad, that's all."
"Comrade Yuri Arkhipovich, what do you think about the battle in Leningrad?" Stalin finally spoke. He looked at Yuri and asked in a serious tone.
"Comrade Stalin, I think this is a feint launched by the German army to tie down the forces of our Central Combat Group," Yuri answered without hesitation.
"What's the reason?" Stalin asked with an interested look on his face.
"I need a map, Comrade Stalin," Yuri demanded.
Stalin nodded, took a few steps forward, and moved the map hanging near the window out.
"At present, the German army fighting in the area outside Leningrad is its Northern Army Group, which has about 26 divisions under its command," Yuri said, pointing to the map, "and in the Karelian Isthmus, there are 4 Finnish divisions, which means that the German army threatening Leningrad has less than 30 divisions. Our army's troops deployed in this area are from the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts. In terms of military strength alone, the German army does not have any advantage."
"But the Germans are not pillars, nor are they dead. Their troops can be mobilized when necessary," Zhdanov interrupted. He did not agree with Yuri's opinion.
"And south of Leningrad, in the central combat zone," Yuri ignored him and continued to look at the map and introduced, "Since the Battle of Moscow, the German Army's Central Army Group has been in a relatively weak position. Our Western Front and Kalinin Front have always maintained strong pressure on the German combat group in the front direction. It is precisely because of this that the German army began to implement the so-called Eastern Barrier Plan in the middle of last year, and built heavily defended core defense zones in Dukhovshina, Yartsevo, Dorogobuzh, Yelnya, Spasdemensk and other places to block our Western Front and Kalinin Front's assault on Smolensk."
Yuri paused for a moment before continuing, "Although the Germans' defensive method of building a defense line based on the core defense zone has caused great trouble to our Western Front and Kalinin Front, it has also restricted their flexible mobilization of forces. In other words, the Germans are also not at an advantage on this front, at least they cannot launch a surprise attack on our army in the short term."
"Comrade Yuri Arkhipovich's views are very accurate and consistent with the views of the General Staff," Zhukov interrupted Yuri while he was speaking. "As far as the entire front-line battlefield is concerned, the only place where the German army has an advantage is the Kursk salient. Up to now, the German army's combat intentions have been completely different from the early stages of the war. In the early stages of the war, the German army's assault on Leningrad was mainly for a political purpose rather than a strategic purpose. Now, the German army is increasingly losing the initiative on the entire front. At this time, it is obviously stupid to continue to waste limited manpower to pursue an unrealistic political effect. Therefore, the German army's summer offensive will never choose the direction of Leningrad."
Zhukov didn't say much, but his words hit the nail on the head. That's right, it was meaningless for the Germans to continue to attack Leningrad with heavy troops. Even if they attacked Leningrad, what would it matter? Would it help to reverse the entire war situation? The answer was obviously no. What the German army needed now was a victory that could reverse the passive situation. If the battlefield was chosen with this purpose in mind, even launching an offensive against Moscow again would be more practical than attacking Leningrad.
So, what was the significance of the German army's focus on attacking Kursk in the summer offensive? It was simple. Once the German army won the attack on the Soviet Kursk salient, it would be able to encircle and annihilate the two major Soviet military groups, the Central and Voronezh, which were assembled in the salient. Once the two major Soviet military groups were crushed, the German army would rush in through the Voronezh gap, attack in the southeast direction, and attack the rear of the Southwestern Front. If it attacked in the northeast direction, it would be able to outflank the rear of the Bryansk Front, thus posing a threat to Moscow and Stalingrad again.
Yuri was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhukov's interruption in explaining. This guy always took every opportunity to show off in front of Stalin. In the past, Yuri might not have thought so. He even thought that Zhukov was strengthening the credibility of his own battle ideas. But now, he still thought so. This is the way politicians think.
Zhdanov was obviously still not satisfied with this explanation. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Stalin's wave of his hand.
"The High Command also believes that the German summer offensive plan should choose the Kursk direction," Stalin said, holding his pipe. "However, after all preparations are in place, the question of whether we can take the lead in launching an offensive against the German army is still a question that some comrades still have objections."
"Comrade Stalin, our real combat purpose in the Kursk salient is not to repel the Germans, nor to simply drive them out of Kharkov or Orel, but to crush these two German heavy forces as much as possible," Yuri gave the simplest and most effective answer. "Therefore, the most effective tactic we should adopt is to wear them down in defense and then encircle and annihilate their offensive forces through a rapid counterattack."
(The author said: Lieutenant Jip can be confirmed to have died in the Battle of Tuapse. As for Suya, I haven't forgotten her. She will appear again soon. Also, Suya may not be the "Suya" written on Julia's note. I said at the beginning that the "Suya" on the note could be a person or a plan. As for what the protagonist thinks, that's just what he thinks.)
