USSR 1941

Originally, Shulka wanted to use Liao Yaoxiang's roller tactics to buy time for Stalingrad, that is, to block and retreat to Stalingrad, so that he could consume the enemy's offensive ability to the maximum extent and preserve his own strength.

Even under these circumstances, Shulka believed that it would be far better to withdraw the Southeastern Front directly to Stalingrad.

The reason is that instead of blocking the German army on the battlefield, they consumed Stalingrad's supplies and sent them to the German army.

But as soon as Lieutenant General Goldov threw out such words, Shulka knew that his idea was impossible to realize.

No matter what "courage" and "defend to the death" are involved, it is difficult to say clearly, especially this is a city named after Stalin.

Sure enough, other officers echoed one by one: "I agree, we can't retreat, we will block the enemy on the way to Stalingrad like the defense of Moscow!"

"We should defend Stalingrad to the death!"

...

The Soviet army, they don't know the phrase "don't care about the gains and losses of a city and a pool".

So Shulka had no choice but to withdraw from this discussion.

It was still Colonel Kaplanov who sent Shulka back to the city. He was silent for a long time before he said, "I think you are right, Captain!"

"What's wrong?"

"The Southeastern Front Army should retreat!" Colonel Kaplanov handed Shulka a cigarette, and after lighting each other, he continued: "Actually, they also know, you understand."

Colonel Kaplanov didn't say much, but Shulka understood what he meant.

In other words, everyone, including Goldov, probably knew that Shulka was right, but they were afraid to use this tactic.

The reason is simply that it is retreating, and retreating would be considered a cowardly, passive act.

This could subject them to disciplinary action which could be dismissal or worse.

"But does it make a difference?" Shulka asked. "I mean, if they didn't choose the right tactics, then the Southeastern Front would be defeated, and they would be responsible for that failure!"

"Of course there is a difference!" Kaplanov replied: "First of all, the Southeastern Front Army may not necessarily be defeated.

At least they still have a glimmer of hope for this, or a miracle will come! Secondly, even if it fails, it can be said that the southeast front army is not fighting well! "

So Shulka understood completely.

Conversely, if they choose Shulka's battle plan, although it is correct and beneficial to the overall situation and the entire battle, Goldov and others will have to take greater risks.

Shulka didn't expect that so many interests would be involved in the choice of a battle plan.

"As for the lives of soldiers on the front line..." Kaplanov smiled wryly and shook his head.

"And the safety of Stalingrad!" Shulka added.

This is an irony. Everyone is vowing to defend Stalingrad, but they have chosen a plan that is not good for defending Stalingrad.

However, Shulka soon discovered that these seemingly selfish officers were not to blame at all.

Two days later, the German army launched an attack on the Southeast Front Army from the south.

Paulus adopted a tactic similar to "Tianji horse racing"... He ordered the Hungarian 2nd Army and the Italian 8th Army, which belonged to Army B, to launch defenses along the Don River.

As mentioned before, the Don River is an insurmountable barrier for the German army, and it is also true for the Soviet army.

Therefore, the German army's defense on the west bank of the Don River with the Italian army and the Hungarian army, which is not strong in combat effectiveness, is enough to protect the safety of its flanks, even though the Stalingrad Front, the more elite Soviet army, is in the north.

Then, Paulus personally led the main force of Army Group B, the 6th Army, to carry out crossing operations against the Southeast Front Army from the lower reaches of Karachi.

The battle across the river took place at night.

The German army, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly launched a large-scale bombardment of the Soviet army and sent troops to start crossing the river.

The Soviet army didn't think much, and immediately organized artillery to counterattack.

In this regard, the Soviet army took advantage of it, because the Soviet artillery had adjusted the guns to aim at the Don River before that.

As soon as the artillery was fired at this time, the shells would blow up the river surface that was about to melt and cover the ice floes everywhere, so it is not difficult to imagine that the German offensive was blocked and unable to advance.

However, just when Goldov was secretly proud of repelling the German army, he received urgent information from the Southeast Front Army a few minutes later: "The German army has crossed the Don River!"

"What's going on?" Lieutenant General Goldov asked, "We just repelled them!"

"That's an enemy conspiracy, Comrade General!" Major General Filippovich replied: "Their actual crossing point is two kilometers away, and they crawled across the ice with infantry in dark light equipment!"

Lieutenant General Goldov was too shocked to speak.

It turned out that Paulus asked scouts to test the ice on the Don River and thought that the ice could barely bear the weight of the soldiers.

Of course, if the soldiers are fully armed and carry dozens of kilograms of equipment, it is obviously not acceptable.

So Paulus ordered the troops to leave everything else and carry only the necessary combat equipment, such as grenades, rifles, bullets, etc.

On the other hand, he ordered the soldiers to climb across the ice... This is to increase the contact area between the human body and the ice, which makes the ice less prone to cracking.

As a result, a battalion of the German army crawled across the Don River in the dark under the cover of the sound of artillery, and then suddenly attacked the Soviet army on the east bank of the Don River.

What's more, the panicked Soviet army was caught off guard and couldn't resist at all. They left their positions and fled after only holding on for more than ten minutes.

This enabled the German army to successfully open a breakthrough on the east bank of the Don River.

Then the engineers built pontoon bridges to cross the Don River one by one... So far, the Soviet army can no longer resist the German army's march to Stalingrad.

In fact, not only was it impossible to resist, the Soviet army was almost defeated under the German attack. In just one night, they lost two lines of defense and were repelled for 30 kilometers. At the same time, a large number of Soviet troops surrendered to the German army.

Shulka and others in Stalingrad did not know this.

This is to avoid panic within Stalingrad, so when the front is defeated, it is usually not advertised in the city.

But Shulka and others knew this from the other side... The Supreme Command issued Order No. 227 at this time: "We must tenaciously hold on to every position and every inch of the Soviet Union's territory until the water is exhausted." To the last drop of blood. We must hold on to every piece of our land and fight for it to the fullest! Not one step back!"