Moscow.

The failure of the Kharkiv Battle has put Moscow in panic.

They can hide it from their people, but no one knows the truth of the war better than the top leaders. They cannot hide it from themselves.

The failure of the Kharkov Battle caused most of the 450,000 Soviet troops to be wiped out. If the German army took advantage of the situation and advanced directly at this time, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Stalin was furious and kept accusing Marshal Timuxingo and the Soviet commanders of Kharkov for letting down his trust.

Then, the terrifying offensive and defensive battle of Sevastopol Fortress occurred. In the early and after stages of the offensive and defensive battle of the fortress, another 270,000 Soviet troops were killed, captured and disappeared.

The two battles caused the Soviet army to lose more than 700,000 troops at once. What a terrible disaster? Even if the Soviet Union had a large population, such losses would be difficult to digest for a while.

The shadow of failure seems to be shrouded in Moscow

"The German army is also not capable of launching a large-scale attack for the time being. After two major battles, they also urgently need to rest." Zhukov could see clearly. He said the current situation on the battlefield in one sentence: "Although the German army performed very well, they are not real war machines after all. I think they will not launch new offensives in the next three months, and we have some time to adjust."

"Adjust the time? Organize another million troops and then be wiped out by the Germans?" Stalin said with a cold look.

Zhukov and Huasilevsky looked at each other. This was not what a Supreme Commander should say at this time.

But no one dares to oppose Comrade Stalin

"Someone must bear the responsibility for this failure!" Stalin said coldly.

However, this is also a bit difficult. The Russians now think that the Battle of Kharkov was a brilliant victory for the Soviet army. They never expected that in Kharkov and Sevastopol Fortresses, all more than 700,000 Soviet troops would be finished.

Are you responsible? How to talk to your own people?

Stalin walked there a few steps in anger and suddenly stopped: "Where is Brother Timuxin? Where is he now? Was he beaten to death by the Germans or committed suicide?"

"We have no news about Marshal Timxin, Comrade Stalin." Huasilevsky said cautiously and carefully.

"If he died bravely in battle, I can forgive his failure." Stalin's words were chilling.

"Comrade Stalin, Marshal Temuxine has news." At this time, Ravrenji Pavlovich Belia, chairman of the Soviet National People's Security Committee, also known as the Director of the State Security Administration, walked in.

In one sentence, everyone's attention was attracted.

"How is he doing now? Have you found his body?" In Stalin's mind, Marshal Timuxin had already died in battle, and he had to die mainly in battle.

Apart from that, he cannot accept any consequences!

"No, Comrade Stalin," Belia said carefully: "Not only did he not die in battle, but he was about to return to Moscow!"

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely solemn

Stalin didn't say a word, he held his pipe and kept sucking there.

This is the time when everyone is most afraid of!

After a while, the imagined thunder storm did not appear. Stalin said slowly, "Tell me, what's going on."

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Belia, who had been waiting, immediately said: "Everything that came back with him was Comrade Volvo, Chief of Staff of the Southwest Front, Comrade Berekov, the commander of the Guard Brigade, and some officers and soldiers. Our defense forces responded to them. They were said to have been broken out by the support."

"Recruiting and breaking through?" Stalin looked at Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, have we sent the support troops in Kharkov?"

"No, Comrade Stalin." Although we knew that the situation was a little bad, Zhukov could only answer honestly; "After the outbreak of the Battle of Kharkov, it was difficult for us to continue to draw troops to reinforce, and when the battle broke out to the end, we did not send any reinforcements."

Stalin sneered: "Then I'm very surprised, where did the support troops come from? Can you tell me, Comrade Ravrendi, Pavlovich, and Beria?"

Beria smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid Deputy Director Dimirenko can answer you, and he figured out the whole story as soon as possible."

With Stalin's consent, Dimirenko, deputy director of the State Security Administration, walked in, and Beria winked at him: "Tell me about Comrade Stalin, Comrade Dimirenko."

"Yes, Comrade Beliya." Dimirenko cheered up: "According to my investigation, this is what happened. At that time, the German army had already launched an offensive in front of Kharkov, and our troops were surrounded. At this time, a major named Raskimir was said to have taken the Special Operations Team of the General Administration of Security to tear a big gap in the German army's siege, and then successfully rescued Marshal Timuxin and some others."

"Laskimir? Special Operations Team of the General Administration of Security?" Stalin frowned: "Comrade Belia, Comrade Dimirenko, do you have such an organization?"

"No, never." Beria and Dimirenko replied at the same time.

"Ah, comrades, then I find it very strange." Stalin's words were full of sarcasm: "Who can tell me where did a team that did not exist at all appear? Or did some of our comrades risk their lives to rescue the respected Marshal Timuxin without permission?"

No one answered, this matter is indeed a bit strange

The shadows rose in Zhukov and Wasseylevsky's hearts, and they vaguely realized something was wrong.

Marshal Timuxin is in trouble.

"Comrades." Stalin's voice continued to sound in their ears: "Let's imagine that so many brave Soviet warriors were surrounded and could not break through, while our Marshal Temusinko successfully highlighted the encirclement. Why? Can we imagine that there are some inside stories between him and the Germans that we don't know?"

Zhukov and Wasseylevsky shivered. Once such a crime is held accountable by Comrade Stalin, Marshal Temuxin will probably suffer a great disaster.

Zhukov still dared to argue with Stalin. He felt that he had to excuse Marshal Temuxine at this time: "Comrade Stalin, this may be a conspiracy of the Germans?"

"Conspiracy?" Stalin's eyes fell on him: "My Chief of Staff, I sincerely ask you what kind of conspiracy is this for the Germans?"

Zhukov did not take into account the sarcasm in Stalin's words: "Do you think this was done by the Germans on purpose so that we could suspect Marshal Temuxin?"

"My Chief of Staff, you may be the best commander on the battlefield. How can you say such childish and ridiculous words?" Stalin did not give his chief of staff any qualities: "If you were the commander of the enemy, would you let a marshal go? Ah, would we just be suspicious and distrust him? Do you tell you that you would do this?"

Zhukov was speechless to say that although Comrade Stalin was very rude, what he said was not unreasonable. How could an enemy choose to use this method?

That's a marshal!

But Zhukov would never believe that Marshal Temuxine had collusion with the Germans.

That was such a loyal Bolshevik!

"Comrade Belia, what do you think you should do?" Some of the thoughts in Stalin's mind would not be expressed by himself.

"Add him and let him confess all his crimes and why we failed this time! Did he collude with the Germans? Did he deliberately lose this battle to sell our great motherland?"

Beria's words of hesitation are scary.

Zhukov knew very well that Stalin must not nod, otherwise there would be no room for anything to be saved. He hurriedly said: "I object, Comrade Stalin."

"Look, look, our comrade Chief of Staff has another objection." Stalin sneered: "Okay, let's listen."

Zhukov said boldly: "Comrade Stalin, for the needs of political propaganda, the Soviet people do not know the truth about the Kharkov Battle. If Marshal Timuxingo is arrested at this time, it is equivalent to telling everyone that we have failed. This may shake the determination of the Soviet people to resist."

Stalin was silent there, which was also his concern.

The room was quiet and could hear a needle falling to the ground.

After a while, Stalin finally said slowly: "Master Timuxingo returned to Moscow with the glory of victory. I want to greet and give a medal to commend his great contribution to the Soviets in the Battle of Kharkov."

Zhukov and Huasilevsky closed their eyes in pain, knowing what will happen next.

There is nothing more cruel than knocking people from the peak to the bottom.

"As for the later." Stalin looked at Belia and Dimirenko: "Comrade Belia, Comrade Dimirenko, I need to know what happened to Marshal Temusinko in Kharkov, and you can bring him to you for interrogation."

Comrades Belia and Dimirenko stood up straight:
Chapter completed!