Chapter 132 Removal from Office

Also on July 29, just as the newly arrived 268th Infantry Division of the German Army officially rushed to the front line and joined the Yelniya City battle zone, something was quietly happening in Moscow, the heart of the Soviet capital, far behind. An extremely important event.

The Battle of Yelnya, in which the Soviet army had been launching fierce attacks for many days, was unable to achieve a breakthrough. Such a bad situation made General Zhukov, currently the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He repeatedly In the name of the General Staff Headquarters, a telegram was sent to inquire and urge the commander of the Western Front, Marshal Timoshenko, to demand a breakthrough in the Yelniya theater as soon as possible.

But regardless of the final success or failure of the battle, Zhukov, who shoulders the post of Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, is necessary to report the progress and specific circumstances of the battle to Comrade Stalin, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union.

After sorting out all the war situations at hand, Zhukov took the schematic map of the war zone he drew with his own hands, and embarked on the road to meet the supreme leader of the Soviet Union with a somewhat anxious and uneasy mood.

The outbreak of the Great Patriotic War increased the security level around Stalin, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, more than several times. Even Stalin's close friend and favorite general like Zhukov had to go through multiple searches and approval reporting procedures. You can enter the Kremlin, and you cannot enter the office door that symbolizes the supreme leadership of the Soviet Union until you obtain the approval of Stalin himself.

"General Zhukov, Comrade Leader is waiting for you inside. You can go in now."

With a careful reminder from Stalin's secretary coming from the corridor outside the door, Zhukov gently pushed the door open and then appeared within Stalin's field of vision.

"Sit down, Zhukov, I have been waiting for your report."

Facing Stalin's nod of approval, he pointed the pipe in his hand at the seat in front of his desk and slowly opened his mouth. Zhukov, who had been with Stalin for a long time and was familiar with his personality, didn't say much, and then carried his briefcase carrying maps and documents. , sitting in front of Stalin with a desk apart.

"Let the report begin, Comrade Zhukov."

"Yes, Comrade Stalin."

While responding, Zhukov opened his briefcase, reached out and took out the folded war zone map and spread it on Stalin's desk. Zhukov, who had already organized the corresponding words in his mind, immediately began to describe it to Stalin.

The lengthy narrative of the frontline battle situation completely includes the current war situation of all the Soviet front-line troops from the northwest to the southwest. Zhukov, who performed his duties as the chief of general staff with great distinction, is worthy of being Stalin's favorite general.

Even though he was in the Red Army General Staff Headquarters in the rear area, his outstanding military command talent was still able to strategize the frontline battle situation thousands of miles away. This was an important shining point that Stalin valued.

The detailed and complete frontline battle situation report clarified all the key points for Stalin in the form of a finger map one by one. The unoptimistic battle situation of the three Lutheran army groups approaching Moscow has been completely presented in Stalin's mind.

After narrating everything he had prepared in his mind, Zhukov immediately put away his drawing pencil, raised his head, and spoke quietly to Stalin in front of him.

"Comrade Stalin, in order to avoid more unnecessary troop losses and to ensure that enough troops are left to defend the capital Moscow. I suggest that the entire right wing of the Southwestern Front be withdrawn as quickly as possible to the east bank of the Dnieper River so that it can be formed Fists, wait for the opportunity to strike hard at the enemy!"

Stalin was stunned for a moment after hearing Zhukov's words. Stalin's slightly narrowed eyes flashed with an imperceptible cold light. He could naturally understand the ultimate consequences of Zhukov's suggestion.

“What about Kiev?”

The profound gaze and the words without the slightest hint of emotion were like a mallet that kept hammering Zhukov's heart.

As the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, Zhukov naturally understands the importance of Kiev.

This capital city of Ukraine has extremely important military status and political significance. The loss of Kiev means the complete failure of the Soviet Red Army in the direction of the Ukrainian theater.

At the same time, voluntarily giving up Kiev would hurt the feelings of all Soviet people, including Stalin himself. This will add fuel to the fire of the Ukrainian people's anti-Soviet sentiment, which was already caused by the great famine in Ukraine due to policy reasons in the early years.

But Zhukov was a soldier and the supreme chief of staff of the Red Army.

Directing the war cannot rely on emotions. Any personal emotions or even political factors that need to be considered must give way to the military in Zhukov's eyes.

For the sake of the lives of millions of Red Army soldiers on the front lines who were fighting bloody battles against the Nazi invaders, Zhukov, who knew the profound meaning of Stalin's words, still decided to speak out and speak out.

"It's a pity, Comrade Stalin, but we have to abandon Kiev."

To say that Zhukov did not understand the hint he had just given, Stalin, who knew his character well, was more willing to believe that it was Zhukov's upright character that was secretly at work.

Stalin, who was angered by Zhukov's words, stood up from his chair with a roar. His trembling beard was wrapped in the fury of thunder and immediately rushed towards Zhukov who was speechless.

"You, the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, could have thought of giving up Kiev to those ** invaders so easily! Comrade Khrushchev just sent me a telegram yesterday, saying that he was absolutely sure and determined to win. To defend Kiev, you, the chief of staff of the Red Army, gave me such a completely different and terrible answer!”

Zhukov, who had already made up his mind, was naturally ready to face any of Stalin's thunderous wrath. His straightforward and straightforward personality made the Red Army Chief of Staff, who was unwilling to flatter, stand up straight from his chair and talk back. .

"Comrade Stalin, if you think that I, the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army, am not good enough or competent enough and can only talk nonsense, then why do you want me here? Since you don't want to trust me, just remove me from the post of Chief of Staff. Come on!"

Stalin, who knew Zhukov's character well, was not surprised that such words came out of his mouth. He stared straight out the window with cold eyes and then blurted out words of the same temperature.

"You can get out of here if you feel necessary."

"I am a soldier and must implement any decision of the Supreme Command! But my colleagues and I at the General Staff Department firmly believe that our judgment on the frontline situation is correct!"

After finishing all the remaining words in his heart, the aggrieved Zhukov rolled up the map spread out on the table and left Stalin's office without looking back.

The next day, Zhukov was expected to be dismissed from the post of Chief of General Staff of the Red Army by Stalin, and was demoted and transferred to Commander of the Reserve Front. Shaposhnikov replaced him as Chief of General Staff of the Red Army. One position.

Zhukov, who was preparing to leave his base camp at the Moscow airport to join the frontline reserve army, had mixed feelings in his heart. Stalin, who had always regarded Zhukov as his confidant, had no words to say goodbye or even a word of farewell.

Those "smart people" who have eyes and ears in all directions are also at this special moment, hurriedly keeping a distance from Zhukov and not coming to say goodbye at all. On the airport where the cold wind blows, only the whistling propellers are making continuous roars. Make a sound to indicate your presence.