Chapter 1199 Admonishment (Fifth)

The Russian army's winter offensive lasted for five full days before it came to an end. In these five days, except for an attack launched during the day on the first day, the subsequent attacks were all at night, in order to avoid the powerful air strikes of the German army and reduce the casualties of the troops.

But even so, after five days of fierce fighting, the Russian army lost more than 300,000 people. This is why General Zhukov limited the attack power. If it launches a violent attack all day long, the Russian army may lose more than one million people. In that case, it will be another serious blow to the Russian army.

The Russian army lost more than 300,000 people, but the damage to the German army and its allies was minimal. The losses of the Polish Army and the Belarusian Army were not large, which also boosted the morale of these servants. The next time they encounter the Russian army on the frontal battlefield, they will at least have enough courage to fight them.

General Zhukov is now under tremendous pressure. Although he is the person in charge of this operation, those political workers keep making trouble for him, thinking that his current behavior has not carried out Joseph's order at all. He even kept leapfrogging to respond to the political commissar of the front army.

On December 31, General Zhukov received a notification from the Front Army Command that Comrade Joseph wanted to see him and asked him to rush to the Kremlin immediately.

That afternoon, General Zhukov took a plane to the Kremlin. Although it is very dangerous to fly by plane at this time, there is a possibility of being shot down by a fighter plane of the Luftwaffe. But traveling long distances in the ice and snow is obviously not as comfortable as flying.

General Zhukov was lucky and arrived in Moscow safely all the way. After dinner that night, he was brought to Joseph's office. At this time, Marshal Voroshilov and Shaposhnikov were also here.

Joseph's face was a bit uneasy. Obviously, he already knew that the Russian army had lost troops on the front line, but he failed to achieve the goals he originally envisioned. Originally, Joseph also hoped that the Russian army would take advantage of the fact that it was not afraid of the cold, and strive to severely injure the German army. No matter how bad it was, the German slave country would have to pay a heavy price. However, the final result was that the Russian army suffered heavy losses.

"Comrade Zhukov, do you have anything to say about the front?" Joseph asked.

"Comrade Joseph, I'm sorry, I failed your expectations." General Zhukov lowered his head, like a primary school student who made a mistake.

"Comrade Zhukov, I want to know why the front line is like this?" Joseph said.

General Zhukov thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade Joseph, this counterattack is too hasty and inappropriate."

Marshal Voroshilov and Shaposhnikov couldn't help but gasped, Zhukov, a fool, really dared to say anything! In this case, aren't you blatantly accusing Joseph of indiscriminate command? With Joseph's temper, it was obviously impossible to bear it. They can even guess that the expression on Joseph's face has become very ugly now, and it will soon be time for the volcano to erupt.

However, unexpectedly, Joseph was not angry, but seemed to be listening to Zhukov's reasons.

General Zhukov also discovered this abnormality, and then he bit the bullet and continued.

"Comrade Joseph, in the early days of the war, we were severely attacked by the Germans. Both the army and the air force suffered heavy losses, and the navy is now almost completely wiped out. So far, our losses have exceeded 3 million troops. The reason for the loss is so large, on the one hand, because of the strength of the German army, and on the other hand, the war broke out so suddenly that we were not prepared at all. In comparison, it is naturally difficult for us to defeat Germany people.

Under such circumstances, we are not rushing to fight back, but taking advantage of the rare breathing opportunity now to reorganize our troops and prepare for the coming decisive battle next year. If I'm not wrong, the Germans should regard next year as the most critical year to defeat us. If we fail to withstand the German attack next year, perhaps we will be destroyed by them! General Zhukov continued.

"The decisive battle? Next year?" Joseph couldn't help but frowned. He didn't seem to really think about it.

"Yes, Comrade Joseph. The Germans have wiped out three million of us through previous wars. The losses we have caused to the Germans are very small. Next spring, the Germans will definitely launch another big war The size of the attack. If you add the troops of the slave countries that the Germans invested on the battlefield, the scale of their troops will be much larger. In that case, our losses on the battlefield will be even greater. Even if we have sufficient troops resources, but can withstand the loss of a few three million? As long as the Germans wipe out two more three million of us, we will go to extinction!" General Zhukov said.

Joseph's face suddenly became very ugly. It wasn't that Zhukov's words offended him, but that he was really frightened by the scene Zhukov described. He knows that although Russia has a large number of soldiers, the total number of troops he can mobilize is at most 12 million. If the scale of conscription is expanded to include the elderly, children and criminals, the maximum is only one million. Fifteen million people. Now that three million has been lost, if two more three million are lost, how many troops are left in Russia? At that time, how will they resist the attacks of the Germans and their slave countries.

"If we can't hold off the Germans next year, will we lose six million men?" Joseph asked.

"Comrade Joseph, this is entirely possible. At the beginning of the war, the Germans only took one month to wipe out more than two million of our elite. The Germans will have enough time before next spring and winter. Therefore, we must be prepared for this. Save every ounce of power and use it in next year's war instead of wasting it needlessly. Get a favorable situation," Zhukov continued.

After Zhukov finished speaking, he looked at Joseph, as if waiting for his disposal. He also understood Joseph's character, and he knew that it was absolutely impossible for him to accept other people's opinions because he was stubborn and conceited. Therefore, Zhukov is even ready to be dismissed and exiled to Siberia.