Chapter 886: Strategic Choice

“Comrade Zhukov! Before you make such a decision, I need you to truly understand what you are doing and what you are saying,” Stalin said, his eyes fixed on his trusted subordinate, his tone unhurried. As he spoke, his distinctive, bushy mustache trembled, giving him an air of authority.

Zhukov swallowed hard, looked into Stalin’s eyes, and finally, steeling himself, explained, “Comrade Stalin, it was you who personally approved my transfer to the Far East to atone for my mistakes and achieve merit. That I am here today is also due to your selfless help. It is because I am considering the problem entirely from your perspective that I have proposed this plan.”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and then, in a trembling voice, said to Stalin, “To transfer the main force of 25 divisions to the south, this plan is our only chance to strike back. If this plan cannot stop the German offensive, then I think you will truly have to consider the worst-case scenario.”

“The worst-case scenario?” Stalin seemed to be asking himself, and also asking Zhukov. But he did not wait for Zhukov to give an answer, because even if he were given the courage of a thousand men, Zhukov would not dare to speak of such terrible outcomes in front of Stalin.

The worst-case scenario was to lose the war. This outcome was unacceptable for the Soviet Union, but what was most fatal was that this outcome was even more unacceptable for Stalin personally.

If the Soviet Union were to accept defeat, it would have to recognize the legitimacy of Germany’s current occupied territories. The entire Soviet Union might even have to abandon the path it had always adhered to and join the family of capitalist nations. The entire country would be plunged into turmoil, becoming a poor and backward region.

Of course, Stalin’s personal fate would likely be even more tragic. For the entire nation, he might be the first leader to lose territory and surrender to a foreign power. This crime alone would be enough to brand him for life, making him the most reviled leader in the brief history of the Soviet Union.

What was even more terrifying was that his political enemies, whom he had exiled to Siberia, would settle their scores with him, with the support of this powerful opponent, Germany. His end would be absolutely miserable. He would not only lose his power but also his life.

“I will not give up the power in my hands, Comrade Zhukov,” Stalin said, looking at his subordinate. His feelings were complex. He had once been the most powerful person in this country, but now, he had to bear the weight of the entire nation to face an even more powerful invader.

“Because if I do, I will be framed by those traitors and shameless villains. My life cannot be judged by these people. Do you understand, my most loyal Comrade Zhukov?” After some consideration, Stalin finally spoke to Zhukov. “Do you understand?”

Of course, Zhukov understood. Ever since he had received the news that Marshal Voroshilov, who had once shown him great kindness, had died in battle on the Crimean Peninsula, he knew that the great Soviet leader, Comrade Stalin, would not tolerate any form of betrayal. What he wanted was absolute control and absolute power, which no one could question.

“Great leader, Comrade Stalin. I understand your meaning, and I also support your thoughts,” Zhukov immediately stated his position. “My loyalty to you has never wavered in the slightest. The current situation is very unfavorable for us, but I firmly believe that under your leadership, we will ultimately achieve a decisive victory.”

After showing his loyalty, he began to talk about the command authority he wanted to fight for. “Our armored forces must be concentrated and sent south. While we still have enough oil reserves, we must launch a preemptive strike to wear down the main German forces near Stalingrad. Only in this way can we have a chance of survival!”

Zhukov already had a lot of detailed intelligence. He was very certain that the German Army Group A, under the command of Field Marshal von Rundstedt, and Army Group F, under the command of General Kluge, did not have much fuel. This intelligence had been repeatedly verified through many channels. Zhukov did not believe it was just a groundless rumor.

He then boldly came up with a plan, a plan he felt was very feasible. That was, under these circumstances, to take the initiative to assemble his forces, to first concentrate his superior forces in the southern region, and to fight a strategic decisive battle. Regardless of the outcome, this was the best countermeasure the Soviet army could choose now.

The countermeasures the Soviet Union was currently taking were nothing more than a delaying tactic, hoping to drag the war out until their replacements arrived, and then to fight a strategic decisive battle. But this delaying tactic had been seen through by the German army, which was why they had used a strategy of a quick and decisive battle at Stalingrad.

This had created a terrible fact: once the German army had completed its strategic deployment, even if the Soviet army ultimately achieved a numerical superiority, it would not be able to seize the initiative in a future war. The Baku oil fields were already lost. Even with millions of tanks, what could they do?

Moreover, the feedback from Stalingrad had proven a terrible fact: the urban street fighting that the German army had been avoiding was actually not their weakness. At least in the process of attrition, the German army had always maintained its advantage. This had caused the Soviet army to suffer greater losses in actual combat than they had imagined.

Once the Soviet army suffered too many losses in the subsequent defensive battles, then what role their long-awaited replacements could play would be truly unknown. Instead of sitting and waiting for death, it was better to come up with a better plan now to deal with the series of changes at the front.

And so, Zhukov had drawn up a bold defensive plan: he decided to hand over the main defensive front to a mixed force of new recruits and infantry, to tie down the German Army Groups A and F under Rundstedt and Kluge. Then, the main armored forces would quickly head south to form an absolute superiority in forces against the German army in the southern region.

Then, they would inflict a heavy blow on the German Army Groups G and N from the flank, complete this offensive plan, save Stalingrad, put pressure on the southward-advancing German Army Group M, and force them to give up their strategic plan to attack the Baku oil fields.

To concentrate more than eighty percent of the Soviet tanks in the southern front, to launch an assault on the German army with a dense combat group, to grit their teeth and bear the losses, and to chew up the main German forces on the southern front, thereby thwarting the German army’s attempt to capture the Baku oil fields in the southern theater. Zhukov believed that only in this way could the Soviet Union continue to hold on, to maintain the current situation.

Since waiting for replacements was to achieve a numerical superiority, then to take the initiative to transfer troops and to form an even greater local superiority in forces, wasn’t that a simpler and faster way? This was Zhukov’s idea: to concentrate his superior forces and to launch the counter-offensive in the south ahead of schedule.

“If I lose Moscow, everything I have will be shaken by those who oppose me. If I am doomed, you will also be finished with me. Because in their eyes, you are already my loyal subordinate,” Stalin said, staring at Zhukov. He seemed not to have heard his analysis of the war situation and just stated in a slightly wooden tone, “You cannot leave me, otherwise you will also die. Do you really think that losing Moscow is a fun thing?”

Of course, it was not a fun thing, especially for Stalin personally. The foundation of his rule was in Moscow, and his personal prestige also depended on his control over Moscow and other important cities. Now, if any of these cities were to be lost, it would be an unprecedented blow to his personal prestige.

His opponents would use this to make a big fuss. The external enemies were not terrible; what was terrible was that cracks would appear within the Soviet Union. This was what Stalin feared most. This was the reason why he insisted that the Soviet army must defend Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad.

“Comrade Stalin, if Moscow were to be lost, you would only lose a part of your prestige. As long as the army is still there, as long as we can continue to fight for the motherland, then everything can still be recovered,” Zhukov said, not knowing where he got the courage from. He stared at Stalin. “But once we lose the oil, we will lose everything. At that time, let alone a few cities, what we will ultimately lose is the entire Soviet Union!”

Stalin, of course, knew that the current situation was a dilemma. He had also privately regretted his own vainglory and his inability to resist the temptation of his subordinates, which had pushed Khrushchev and Voroshilov to the front, leading to the great rout in Poland. Privately, he had also once felt that forcing Zhukov to launch a counter-attack on the German army in the winter was a very unwise act. But as a leader, he would not admit these things. To anyone, he would not easily lower his proud head.

He had also once asked himself why, when the German Führer interfered in military matters, he could always achieve unexpected results, while he, the great leader of the Soviet Union, every time he reached into the military field, would always make the outcome even more pessimistic. But unfortunately, there would be no answer to this kind of question, right? Unless Stalin himself admitted that he was not as good as that damn German Führer, but that was clearly impossible.

Thinking of that Führer, Stalin seemed to have thought of something. He looked at Zhukov and finally agreed to this offensive plan. “Since you, a professional military commander, think this is a good idea, then I will support your plan. I hope you can achieve victory in this final decisive battle. Go, go and drive the Germans out of the Soviet Union!”

As he spoke these words, his fists were clenched tightly. If that Führer could be so open to the advice of his generals, then he, Stalin, could also do it. Since he, Stalin, and Germany’s Akado were destined to be rivals, then at least in the final battle, he would give his subordinates enough room to maneuver, just like those German generals!

Advance chapters at Nightjar Reads · nightjarreads.com