After being reorganized and reinforced, the Russian Western Front had become the Russian military's largest front army. It commanded twenty-four infantry army corps, two tank army corps, and two air army corps, with a total strength of more than three million men.
Marshal Voroshilov, a Politburo member of Buru, assumed command of the Western Front. Yet Marshal Voroshilov resisted this post from the bottom of his heart. If he had been facing a weaker opponent, perhaps he would have gladly accepted the order. But the enemy now was powerful Germany! Several front armies had already been crushed, and even Marshal Budyonny had died in battle. This left Marshal Voroshilov deeply worried, afraid that if he suffered defeat, he would follow in Marshal Budyonny's footsteps.
The Western Front's headquarters was established in Dorokhovo, a small town roughly fifty kilometers from Moscow. A highway ran through the town, making it one of the gateways west of Moscow.
Of course, there was only one truly vital gateway west of Moscow: Smolensk. But regrettably, the Russian military had captured Smolensk in last year's fighting.
"Comrade Commander, the German military has launched a massive artillery bombardment. At the same time, their air force has deployed and is carrying out large-scale bombing raids on our artillery. Our artillery has now been completely suppressed and has suffered enormous losses!" reported Lieutenant General Malankin, the front army's chief of staff.
"Damn it! Are those air force fellows really that unable to take a beating? They suffered catastrophic losses in just one day and no longer even have the courage to fight the Germans. At this rate, how are we supposed to keep fighting them?" Before Marshal Voroshilov could speak, Lieutenant General Ponomarenko, the Political Commissar, began to complain.
Voroshilov sighed. Having previously served as People's Commissar of Defense,