Burning Moscow

34 Defenders from the Far East

The staff of the headquarters arranged for Zhukov and I to live in a suite with a bathroom.

Zhukov pointed to the room inside and said to me: “Lida, just live in that room. I live in the outside room.” Before I could say anything, he turned around and said to the staff who came in with us: “Give me Bring a map and lead the telephone line to my room.”

and Zhukov live under the same roof, is this appropriate? I stood there hesitating for a moment, and finally walked into my own room. The furnishings in my room are very simple, except for a table and a bed, there is no more furniture. I put my submachine gun on the table, took off my army coat and hung it on the wall, then sat on the bed and took off my boots.

I ran outside for a day today. Although I spent most of the time in the car, I still felt physically and mentally exhausted after experiencing such a thrilling experience. I just wanted to lie down and have a rest, but fell asleep unexpectedly.

was hungry and woke up in the middle of the night, and woke up looking for something to eat. When I was about to pull the door out, I suddenly remembered that Zhukov lived outside, so going out would not disturb his rest, right? I want to wait until dawn to go out, but I can’t stand it because I’m so hungry, I don’t seem to have eaten anything for the whole day.

I opened the door gently, and unexpectedly found that the outside room was brightly lit. Zhukov was sitting at the table looking at the map. It seems that he has not rested until now. Hearing the sound of me opening the door, he said without looking up: “Lida, you wake up, go and bring me a cup of tea.”

“Yes.” I quickly agreed and ran outside to find someone.

There was a soldier on duty outside the door, and when he saw me coming out, he immediately stood at attention and saluted me. I walked up to him and asked him, “Can you help me find something to eat and pour a cup of tea?”

“Yes, Comrade Major!” He agreed and ran away. Looking at his back, I felt a little strange. How did he know that I was a major? When he looked down, he didn’t wear the soldier’s uniform, so the rank of major on the summer uniform was clear at a glance.

It didn’t take much time, so the soldier walked over with a tray with the things I needed on it. After he handed me the tray, he opened the door for me again. I thanked him and walked into the room with the tray. Put the tea cup, the teapot, the saucer with the sugar, the plate with the military black rusks, and the sliced ​​cooked pork on the table.

Zhukov looked up at me, and said with satisfaction, “Thank you, Lida. Let’s sit down and eat together.”

I was already hungry enough, and I would definitely not be polite with him. I responded and sat down on the chair next to me, picked up a piece of bread and started chewing.

“Lida,” Zhukov said, “I just received a call from Comrade Stalin. Three antiaircraft artillery regiments have been transferred from Moscow overnight and they have been assigned to our Polokino line of defense.”

“Is it to strengthen air defense work?” I asked vaguely with a rusk in my mouth.

“No, they are not used for air defense. These anti-aircraft guns are used to strengthen our anti-tank forces.” He continued with admiration: “In the case of a serious shortage of anti-tank weapons in our army, use this type of anti-tank weapon you invented. The method of hitting tanks with anti-aircraft guns is very effective on the battlefield.”

I smiled and did not speak. To be honest, it seems that I have seen so many World War II movies and novels before, which are still very useful. At least Rommel’s trick against the British army can be used against the German army.

Zhukov went on to say: “Our army suffered huge losses in the war, and morale was inevitably affected. Do you have any good ways to improve morale?”

“Military parade.” I answered him almost without thinking.

“Military parade?!” He frowned and asked in confusion, “What military parade?”

“Traditional military parade on October Revolution Day!” When I recalled the exciting military parade that later generations had witnessed in Red Square, I was also a little excited. “Although the enemy is near the city, our leader is still calm. Holding a grand military parade on the Red Square with confidence, what a boost to the morale of the people!”

“Red Square Parade?” Zhukov heard what I said and began to think. I don’t think he is talking, so he should hurry up to eat, lest I can talk later and I can’t eat anymore.

“Where do the troops in the military parade come from? What about the evacuation of these troops after the military parade?” He was both talking to himself and asking me. “Also, the German air strikes on Moscow have almost never stopped. So many troops are assembled in a small area. Once the enemy’s air force finds and is attacked, they will suffer heavy losses. At that time, not only could it not achieve boosting morale. The purpose of this will be counterproductive.”

“The troop can be transferred from several aspects, one is the reserve team transferred from the rear, the second is the direct troops of the Moscow Military District, and the third is to draw some combat backbones from the troops on the front line to form temporary troops for review.” Traveler, I know very well the role of this military parade and its far-reaching impact, so I want to do my best to promote the military parade on October Revolution. “Air defense is not a big problem. Let the Air Force increase the density of patrols over Moscow and shorten the time of the military parade, so that even if the Luftwaffe gets the information, when they arrive, the military parade is over. As for the troops. Evacuation…” At this point, I deliberately paused, took a sip from the teacup on the table, and then said slowly: “We first prepared a large number of trucks by the Moskva River, and the troops passed through the Red Square. After arriving at the river, I got in the car and drove to the front line.”

Zhukov heard what I said and stood up without saying a word, pacing back and forth in the room with his hands on his back. I know that my proposal is very tempting to him. He will never object to it. What he considers is how to make this proposal to the Supreme Commander in suitable terms and work hard to put this proposal into practice. Implement.

Zhukov stopped in the room, picked up the phone on the desk, dialed a set of numbers, and said, “I am Zhukov, help me pick up Marshal Shabosnikov….” After a while, I heard him say again. “Comrade Marshal, I have a suggestion, please pass it on to Comrade Stalin after dawn…”

When he called, I went back to my room wittily. One is that his level is too low, and there are many things that he shouldn’t know. Even if he knows, he can only pretend not to know, even if he is the initiator. Second, after running around for a day during the day, the clothes and boots were so dirty that they were covered with mud, so it was time to wash them.

In the next few days, Zhukov did not arrange any specific work for me. Even so, I am not embarrassed to be idle, so I can only make a temporary cameo as a signal soldier and waiter. Help him send orders to various departments of the headquarters every day, and then bring all kinds of reports back to him from various departments. When it’s time for dinner, go to the restaurant to help him bring back the food and accompany him to finish the meal. This situation lasted until October 12.

After we finished our breakfast, Zhukov suddenly said: “Lida, you are bored in the house these few days? If this continues, you will get fat. For the sake of your figure, we should go out for a walk today!”

So I immediately cleaned up the cutlery on the table and handed it to the soldiers on duty outside. Then I returned to the room and put on a military coat and carried a submachine gun. In the image of Zhukov’s female bodyguard, I followed him and left the headquarters.

The car we were in was the same car a few days ago. The broken window glass has been replaced with a brand new one, the trunk lid has been welded and repaired, and it has been repainted. When we got in the car, the driver didn’t speak, and started the car directly. It seems that he already knows where we are going.

I looked at the back, and there was still only our car and no other guards accompanied. After experiencing what happened last time, I had some lingering fears and couldn’t help but asked worriedly: “Comrade General, don’t we bring guards?”

“Lida, UU reading www.uukanshu.com, aren’t you the best guard?!” Zhukov joked at me, and then said: “This section of the road is behind our line of defense, and there will be no German tanks. Yes, you don’t have to worry.”

Hearing what he said, I felt relieved. After all, Zhukov was not only a famous general, but also a blessed general. He had never been injured in the war. There should be no problem with his safety.

The car drove to a tent in the forest and stopped. The soldiers standing guard at the door watched us get out of the car, and hurriedly stood up and saluted, and said to Zhukov: “Comrade General, the commanders of the 16th Army are all in the tent.”

Zhukov nodded and walked straight in, and I followed.

The space in the tent is very high, and you can stand up straight after entering. As soon as we entered, the few people who were sitting inside immediately stood up. The Lieutenant General Rokosovsky whom I am familiar with immediately walked over and saluted Zhukov, saying: “Comrade General, the commanders of the 16th Army are in a meeting, please give instructions.”

“Let me see how you are preparing,” Zhukov looked at the other people in the tent and asked, “Who are the others?”

A general wearing a black cape reported loudly: “I am the commander of the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps.”

Then the moustache wearing an khaki short fur coat also reported: “I am Major General Pan Feiluo, the commander of the 316th Infantry Division from Central Asia.”

Finally, a handsome officer wearing a blue cotton coat reported: “I am Colonel Polo Susi, the commander of the 32nd Far East Red Flag Infantry Division. The whole division is fully staffed and ready to go into battle.”