red moscow

Chapter 2632

While Yakov and Zhukov were talking, Sokov's mind was recalling the Western August 1st military exercise in later generations.

The Western August 1981st Exercise was held by the Soviet Army in September 9 to simulate a front-level deep offensive operation exercise conducted by the Army Campaign Strategic Corps with the support of various military arms and tactical nuclear weapons. In addition to the Army mechanized forces, the Soviet Army also participated in the exercise, including the Soviet Air Force's front-line aviation forces, the Soviet Army's medium- and short-range missile forces, the Navy's ship forces, the Marine Corps, the Airborne Forces and other forces, with a total force of more than . The technical equipment mobilized included not only tens of thousands of tanks, but also bombers, fighters, helicopters, rocket launchers and surface ships.

In military exercises, there are usually two sides, the Red side attacks and the Blue side defends.

In the August 1st military exercise, the blue side represents NATO's land defense line in Europe: West Germany - Denmark - Belgium; the sea barrier: the English Channel.

In order to break through the Blue Army's defense line and target Western Europe, the Red Army divided its troops into six groups and launched a heavy attack under the command of Soviet Defense Minister Ustinov.

In order to restore the real war, real guns and live ammunition were used in the August 1st military exercise.

Following the order, the Red Army took the lead in attacking "West Germany". Under the heavy artillery fire, "West Germany" only lasted for two days before it was completely defeated.

After the fall of "West Germany", "Denmark" and "Belgium" became the next targets.

At the same time, the Red Army unexpectedly sent a tank mobile force directly to the rear of "Denmark" and, in coordination with its powerful navy and air force, forced a crossing of the "English Channel".

In the sky, MiG fighters roared past. At sea, the Kiev cruiser fired thousands of guns. Under the sea, nuclear-powered submarines were ready to go.

Eight days later, the Red Army's armored forces entered "France" and "Poland", announcing the end of the exercise.

The powerful coordinated operations of the three armed forces of the Soviet Union shocked NATO. NATO observers who were present at the exercise originally believed that the Soviet Union was only strong in the army, and the navy and air force were just decorations. But after the August 1st exercise, NATO finally saw the true power of the Soviet Union.

In order to deal with the Soviet Union's steel torrent, US President Reagan launched the famous "Star Wars" plan, the core content of which is to attack the enemy's intercontinental strategic missiles and spacecraft in outer space by various means to prevent hostile countries from launching nuclear strikes against the United States and its allies. Its technical means include deploying high-energy directional weapons (such as microwaves, lasers, high-energy particle beams, electromagnetic kinetic weapons, etc.) or conventional strike weapons in outer space and on the ground to conduct multi-level interception at various stages of the enemy's strategic missile attack.

The "Star Wars" plan was hyped up for the next decade or so, but few people knew at the time that the "Star Wars" plan was just a propaganda tool used by the US government to bring down the Soviet Union.

"Misha, Misha!" Zhukov and Yakov chatted for a long time, but saw Sokov standing there expressionlessly, as if he was thinking about something. Zhukov asked quickly, "What are you thinking about?"

Hearing Zhukov's voice, Sokov woke up from his thoughts and said, "Comrade Marshal, I'm wondering, if our country launches an attack on the Allied forces with all its strength, what is the chance of victory?"

Zhukov did not answer the question, but asked: "Misha, what do you think?"

"Comrade Marshal, although the war in Europe has ended for almost a year, the main forces of our army are still deployed in Eastern Europe." Sokov said cautiously: "If we were to launch a surprise attack on the Allies, I think it would be possible to occupy the whole of Europe, including Britain, within one to two months."

Although in the later August 1st military exercise, the Soviet army took only eight days to occupy the whole of Europe, the current Soviet army is not as strong as the Soviet army in the 1980s. Therefore, it is a bold prediction to say that it will take one to two months to occupy the whole of Europe.

Sure enough, Zhukov was surprised when he heard what Sokov said: "Misha, are you so confident in our army?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, that's what I think."

Zhukov shook his head. "Misha, you are too optimistic. To be honest, I think that if we launch an attack on the Allied forces stationed in Europe before May Day, we will achieve great results in the early stage because of the suddenness of the war. But as time goes by, the resistance of the Allied forces will become more and more stubborn, and they will effectively curb our army's advance. The result of the war game simulation at the General Staff Headquarters yesterday was that it would take us about half a year to ten months to occupy the whole of Europe, and the number of casualties would be as high as more than 600,000."

When Yakov heard the data Zhukov said, he couldn't help but gasp: "My God, so many casualties."

Zhukov said with a serious expression: "Yasha, don't forget that in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, the number of troops we lost in half a year was several times more than this number."

"Comrade Marshal, there are many reasons why our army suffered such heavy losses in the early stage of the Great Patriotic War." Sokov expressed his views to Zhukov: "First, after completing its military expansion, Germany signed the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Agreement with us in 1939 in order to prevent our country from noticing its offensive intentions. In 1940, a bilateral trade agreement was signed. Before Germany sent troops, it also exported a large number of advanced weapons to our country. In order to give us the illusion that they were focusing their energy on Britain, they also concocted the "Sea Lion" plan to attack Britain. Their series of actions successfully confused us and caused Comrade Stalin to make a strategic misjudgment. He believed that Germany would not attack our country in a short time, so he relaxed his vigilance against Germany, which gave Germany an opportunity to take advantage of it."

After saying this, Sokov paused for a moment intentionally, wanting to observe Zhukov's reaction.

Zhukov looked up at Sokov and said unhappily, "Why did you stop? Keep talking."

The following content was too sensitive, so Sokov could only say vaguely: "The backward organization, improper deployment and weak command of our army are certainly one reason. But more importantly, the 'Great Purge' purged a large number of our talented military commanders, which seriously weakened the combat effectiveness of the troops..."

"Okay, stop talking." Zhukov was worried that what Sokov said would reach Stalin's ears and cause him a lot of unnecessary trouble, so he stopped him in time: "I understand what you mean. After several years of baptism of war, our officers and soldiers have learned how to fight, have rich combat experience, and have obtained more advanced weapons, thus improving the combat effectiveness of the troops. Am I right?"

"That's absolutely right, Comrade Marshal." Sokov nodded and said, "That's what I think." "I reiterate that the military operation we launched in Europe on the eve of May Day is just a large-scale exercise, not a regular attack. Before the exercise begins, we will also invite military observers from allied countries to the scene to let them see our exercise with their own eyes." Zhukov said, "In order to make the exercise more realistic, the ammunition used in the exercise will be real guns and live ammunition."

Yakov couldn't help but gasp: "Comrade Marshal, if we use real guns and live ammunition in the exercise, won't people die?"

"Yasha, it is impossible to have a live-fire exercise with millions of people without casualties." Zhukov said solemnly, "Only by using real guns and live ammunition can we make the officers and soldiers feel a sense of crisis during the exercise and achieve the purpose of our exercise. How about it, do you want to participate?"

Seeing Zhukov asking for his opinion again, Sokov said without hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, I will resolutely obey your arrangements. If you ask me to participate, I will participate; I will go to any army group you ask me to go to. Even if I can't be the commander of an army group, I will be satisfied as a division commander."

Zhukov laughed after hearing this: "Misha, when have you ever seen a division commander with the rank of colonel? Don't worry, I will arrange for you to go to Malinin. He is also your old superior, and he will definitely give you an army group command."

Sokov found that since leaving the army, he seemed to have lost his goal. After returning from the Far East, he ran around all day long, but in the end achieved nothing. If he could participate in this military exercise, it would mean that he could return to the army.

"You two have completed your mission, so you don't need to stay in the barracks any longer. Go back to your homes tonight." Zhukov said, "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, come to the General Staff Headquarters to participate in the study of the exercise plan."

"Yes, Comrade Marshal," Sokov replied readily, "I will definitely arrive at the General Staff on time tomorrow."

After the two returned to the barracks, they first found Bezikov.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bezikov," Sokov said to Bezikov, "our mission here has been completed and we will leave tonight. From now on, the temporary review force will be officially disbanded. Everyone should return to their units as soon as possible."

Although Bezikov had known for a long time that the reference troops could not go to London, he still felt very upset when he heard Sokov say that the reference troops were disbanded: "Comrade General, I never thought that we would work so hard for so long, but in the end we still have no chance to go to London."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't be discouraged." Yakov was still in an excited state after hearing Zhukov's exercise plan. When he heard what Bezikov said, he hurriedly comforted him: "Maybe one day in the future, you can still lead your troops to the streets of London." According to Yakov's idea, the Soviet army was going to conduct military exercises involving millions of people in Europe, and maybe one day they would really go to war with the Allies. As long as the war broke out, this disbanded reference force might be able to set foot on the land of London as a member of the occupying force.

"Yasha," Sokov interrupted Yakov and said to him, "Please help me find Asiya. I want to take her home with me."

When Yakov heard what Sokov said, he was stunned at first, then he understood something, nodded quickly, and turned and walked away.

After Yakov left, Sokov held Bezikov's hand and said earnestly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you should stay in the Kremlin with peace of mind. Maybe one day in the future, you will have the opportunity to become a general."

For a soldier, becoming a general is a very desirable thing, and Bezikov is no exception. He is now a lieutenant colonel, and if nothing unexpected happens, he may be promoted to general in five years.

Sokov and Bezikov chatted for a while before Yakov came over with Asia: "Misha, Asia is here!"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov saw Asia coming and shook hands with Bezikov again: "We are leaving. See you later!"

After leaving the Kremlin, Yakov asked curiously: "Misha, why did you stop me from talking just now? Could it be that what I said might not exist?"

"This possibility does not exist, so don't give Lieutenant Colonel Bezikov an empty promise that cannot be fulfilled." There were only three people in the car, including Asia, so Sokov naturally had no scruples when speaking: "Although a large-scale military exercise will be conducted on the eve of May 1st, have you ever thought about it? A world war has just ended. When people's minds are calm, who would rashly start a new war? Our military exercise is only to deter the allies. It is basically impossible to meet on the battlefield."

"We formed an alliance with Britain and the United States only to deal with our common enemy, Germany. Now that this country has surrendered, we no longer have a common enemy, so conflicts between us will definitely erupt," Yakov said confidently; "In order to resolve these conflicts, I think we still need to resort to military means in the end."

"That's right. We no longer have a common enemy with the Allies. It's only a matter of time before we become enemies." Sokov continued to express his opinion: "Especially after Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech, he has announced in disguise that we are no longer friends of the Allies, but enemies with different positions."

"Since you have admitted that the allies have become our enemies and that both sides have deployed a large number of troops near the actual contact line, if something happens, it will evolve into a large-scale military conflict or even a war."

Hearing Yakov's remarks, Sokov was really at a loss whether to laugh or cry. It seemed inappropriate to say that Yakov's remarks were wrong, as the relationship between the Soviet Union and its allies was changing from allies to enemies; it was also inaccurate to say that he was right, as according to his understanding of history, the US and the Soviet Union had been in a cold war for decades, but in the end there was no military conflict, let alone war.

Asiya, who was sitting in the back seat, saw Yakov, who was driving, and Sokov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, arguing over something for the first time. She couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "Misha, Yasha, can you tell me what you are arguing about?"

The two people who were arguing remembered the existence of Asiya after hearing her question. Sokov quickly turned his head and said to Asiya, "Asiya, it's nothing. It's just that Yasha and I have different opinions on some things, and we are just expressing our own views."

"That's right." Yakov also realized that it was inappropriate to argue about this in front of Asia, and quickly agreed: "Yasha and I were just discussing some issues. Did we disturb your rest? Don't worry, we won't argue anymore, just close your eyes and rest."

After Yakov drove Sokov and his wife downstairs, he poked his head out and said, "Misha, I'll pick you up at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. You should get ready early."

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come."