When Shulka said this, Vatutin was speechless.

Because the facts are indeed like what Shulka said. Due to reasons such as backward communication equipment and low quality of the troops, the Soviet army often cannot recover the troops when they are sent out to fight. In other words, there are huge problems in command and they cannot be recovered at all.

Take it easy.

Vatutin couldn't answer this point. He could only think about it: "We need to restore the offensive momentum we lost before. This is very important. We must not let the enemy seize the opportunity!"

"Like I said, Comrade Vatutin!" Shulka replied: "Have you considered the situation of failure? It is one thing that we hope to recover, but it is another thing whether we can recover! What if we fail?

We will lose all the advantages brought by the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, and the situation will once again return to a state where the enemy is strong and we are weak and we are passively beaten!"

"The possibility of our failure is low. The enemy is already at the end of his strength..."

Before Vatutin could finish speaking, Zhukov interrupted him: "That's not necessarily true, Comrade Vatutin!"

Zhukov didn't say it clearly, but everyone knew what he meant.

Not long ago, when Vatutin commanded the Southwest Front to pursue the German army in a victorious pursuit, he thought he could drive the Germans out of the Soviet Union in one battle and achieve a decisive victory. However, the reality gave Vatutin a severe slap in the face.

Now, after the Germans have gained a firm foothold and strengthened their defenses, Vatutin should not say such words.

Vatutin knew that he was in the wrong and said: "So, are we just waiting for the Germans to attack? As I said before, you know, the Germans are good at attacking. Although we can't do it, they can do it.

Using fewer troops and equipment poses a threat or even an advantage to our defenses built with several times the number of troops!"

"So we should be more fully prepared!" Shulka replied: "And I think we have been somewhat deficient in formulating strategic goals in the past!"

At this time, even Zhukov cast a doubtful look at Shulka... At least part of the previous strategic goals were formulated by Zhukov.

"I think we need to reflect and think about past battles!" Shulka explained: "Last year's defense of Moscow and this year's battle of Stalingrad, both times were launched by the German army in the summer. After that, I

The army launched a winter counteroffensive. The strategic goals we pursued were too big and too hasty, and we always wanted to swallow up the German army and drive it out of the Soviet Union immediately. However, these strategic goals are unrealistic from now on. The German army is still strong, even if it is attacked

Even after the defeats of the Battle of Moscow and the Battle of Stalingrad, they are still an army that cannot be humiliated. We can only seek to drive them out of the Soviet Union step by step rather than in one step! This was the case before and it is still the case now.

in this way!"

Zhukov nodded slightly, thought for a while and then said: "We were dazzled by the victory, comrades! The defense of Moscow and the defense of Stalingrad were indeed glorious victories, but it was precisely because of these victories that we forgot

In order to realize how difficult it was to achieve these victories, we forget about the strength and tenacity of the enemy. They are not ordinary opponents, and at the same time, they will not be easily routed when defeated like our army. This can be concluded from previous battles. In other words

, we have made two mistakes, and now... we are planning to make a third mistake, still thinking that it will be over after just one battle and a decisive victory! This wish is very beautiful, but we have to face reality,

The war may last much longer and be much more difficult than we imagine!"

Several generals nodded in agreement.

In fact, this is the most important point, which is to realize that the German army is still very powerful, even better than the Soviet army.

On the other hand, "I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry."

Otherwise, we will make the same mistake as Vatutin and Stalin, rushing to counterattack and end the war.

If we realize this, that is, the war will not end so quickly and easily, we will not launch a desperate counterattack. Instead, we should take a step-by-step approach and consider the long term.

"What do you think? Comrade Vatutin?" Seeing that Vatutin was still hesitating, Zhukov asked again.

"I...I have no objection, but Comrade Stalin..."

"I will convince him!" Zhukov replied: "Before this, I couldn't judge whether we should counterattack or defend, but after listening to Comrade Shulka's words, things have become very clear, and we should stay rational.

, we should be on the defensive and need to formulate more reasonable and realistic strategic goals. Therefore, I am very confident to convince Comrade Stalin!"

No one can doubt this.

The reason is very simple. Both the defense of Moscow and the defense of Stalingrad can be said to have been victories under Zhukov's command, but Stalin's command was a mess and made things worse.

In this regard, Stalin and Hitler actually went to two extremes.

Hitler was originally full of confidence in himself and the army, and news of victory had been coming from the front line. The situation was very good. When he was in a happy mood, he was willing to listen to his subordinates' opinions and give them a certain degree of autonomy. Then, when the front line failed again and again, Hitler became frustrated.

He lost confidence and patience, so he became stubborn and refused to listen to the advice of his subordinates.

Stalin was the opposite. At the beginning, he also had confidence in himself and the army. However, under his command, the Soviet army quickly collapsed and even reached the point of life and death. This made Stalin panic and realize his weakness in military command.

Therefore, he changed his usual stubborn character and often solicited the opinions of his subordinates, and even let his subordinates directly participate in decision-making.

Among them, the one who spoke most forcefully was of course Zhukov. After all, he was the deputy supreme commander who won two major battles and saved the country from crisis. He was a firefighter of the Soviet Union. It can even be said without exaggeration that he was the hope of the entire Soviet Union.

In the past, the inability of the Soviet military leaders to make decisions was more because Zhukov himself did not see clearly. But now, if Zhukov takes a firm stand, there will be no problem. The balance will definitely tip to the defensive side, even if Stalin wants to counterattack. Unless Stalin

Recklessly use the power in your hands to persist in the counterattack.

"Okay, Comrade Zhukov, Comrade Shulka!" Vatutin replied helplessly: "I agree with you and change our strategic goal to defense!"

"Thank you for your understanding, Comrade Vatutin!" Zhukov shook Vatutin's hand.
Chapter completed!