USSR 1941

"Not going to do this?" Andrianka said in surprise: "But this is an order, Comrade Captain!"

Major Mikhailvich said: "Although I don't care much about orders, Comrade Captain! But we may have to, we have no other choice!"

Major Akimovich also nodded in agreement with Mikhailvich's words: "Comrade Captain, I believe that Golikov has thought it through in this regard. He would not have made such a decision if he could, I am Say... put the 82nd Infantry on this suicide mission!"

"I know!" Shulka said. "But sticking to hospitals and schools is not our only option!"

As he said that, Shulka pointed to Mamayev Hill on the map, and continued: "All the battles revolve around Mamayev Hill. Holding on to hospitals and schools is actually serving the purpose of capturing Mamayev Hill. , if we can take Mamayev Konk, we won't need to hold on to hospitals and schools!"

The officers were stunned when they heard this.

The reason is indeed very simple, the ladder is moved to pick apples, but if the apples have already been picked...of course there is no need to move the ladder.

In the same way, the purpose of defending the hospital and the school is to seize the Mamayev post, but of course there is no need to hold the hospital and the school if the Mamayev post can be captured.

The problem is that it's not easy.

"Comrade Captain!" Akimovich said, "Perhaps you don't know that our attack on Mamayev's post has never been less than two regiments!"

Akimovich was originally the staff officer of the 62nd Army, so he was familiar with the battle on Mamayev Post. He took the initiative to explain: "The Germans have about one regiment in strength. The Doljj Gully in the south has built two lines of defense, and another line of defense has been built behind us, and its main force is attacking Mamayev Post with all its strength... Now that they have captured Mamayev Post, it means Its main force should be deployed around Mamayev Gang, and they have nearly a hundred tanks! I don’t know how many of them are still there, but the number will not be small!”

(Note: Many officers and soldiers of the Soviet Army can't tell the difference between assault guns and tanks, at least they don't look much different from the outside, so they are always called tanks)

Akimovich doesn't know the current data because he has been in the 82nd Infantry Regiment for some time!

"We need more detailed information!" Mikhailvich interjected, "If we want to occupy Mamayev Post!"

"No!" Shulka shook his head and said, "We don't need to do that!"

"Why?" Mikhailvich looked at Shulka suspiciously.

"That may expose our strategic intentions!" Shulka replied.

The secrecy of the Soviet army's operations has always been worrying, just as German pilots can always know the location of the Stalingrad arsenal and important targets and carry out targeted bombing.

Especially the current 62nd Army still concentrates all the forces of the city in various parts. It is very easy for such a unit to mix in a few spies.

"We must be cautious!" Shulka said: "Because once the enemy knows our strategic intentions and prepares, then the 82nd Infantry Regiment really has no choice but to stick to hospitals and schools!"

"That is to say..." Mikhailvich said with some concern: "We will seize Mamayev Post without sufficient intelligence and without the cooperation of friendly forces?"

"You can say that!" Shulka nodded.

Major Mikhailvich and the others had somewhat worried and disapproving expressions on their faces.

On the one hand, this worry is due to unknown intelligence, and on the other hand, it is due to the lack of strength of the 82nd Infantry Regiment... Just like Akimovich said, the two Soviet regiments attacked Mamayev Post with it No way, even one of these regiments is a well-equipped, experienced and well-rested 13th Guards Infantry Division that has just been reinforced from the east coast.

Like the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, the word "Guards" in the designation means that this is a unit that has made military exploits.

The 13th Guards Infantry Division is no exception. Its original designation was the 87th Infantry Division. It was reorganized as the 13th Guards Infantry Division in the direction of Voronezh two months ago because of its bravery in combat.

The 39th Regiment to which it belonged was engaged in the battle of Mamayev Post as soon as it was reinforced in Stalingrad, but due to the terrain, it failed to achieve much results.

The German army's attack on Mamayev Post was well thought out. They attacked from the direction of the hospital and school, that is, from the west. The north of Mamayev Post is the Banny Canyon, and the south is the Dorji Gully. natural barrier.

To the east was the plain near the Volga, which the Germans could easily block by artillery and air power.

What Mikhailvich and others were worried about was that if the 39th Guards Infantry Regiment could not capture Mamayev Gang, how could the 82nd Infantry Regiment with only 1,000 men do it?

In fact, the 82nd Infantry Regiment now has less than 1,000 soldiers, and more than 200 people have been lost in previous battles, but the observation company can be regarded as a supplement.

"Actually, we don't need much intelligence!" Shulka explained: "Because we are almost sure that the enemy will not deploy assault guns and tanks on Mamayev Hill, and they will use these equipment for offensive purposes. Hospitals and schools!"

Mikhailvich and others did not object.

The reason is that Mamayev Hill is a commanding height. Although it stands high and can be hit far away, it is also vulnerable to enemy artillery bombardment, especially when the German army has just captured this high ground and there are not many bunkers.

Therefore, assault guns and tanks can be used to attack Mamayev Gang, but obviously not for defense.

The best option is to call back these assault guns and tanks and attack hospitals and schools with the main force of the German army. This is also a battle to open up their supply lines and reinforcements.

"So!" said Shulka, "we are going to face more infantry from Mamayev Kurgan!"

This made Mikhailvich a little overwhelmed.

"But those assault guns and tanks will attack us!" Mikhailvich said. "How can we jump over them!"

"Of course we can skip them, Comrade Mikhailevich!" Shulka said, pointing to the map. High-quality bunkers…”

"cemetery?"

Several people in the headquarters couldn't help being dumbfounded when they heard this.

"Yes, the cemetery!" Shulka nodded, and drew a line on the map with a pen: "There is an underground pipeline leading to the cemetery, I mean... when the enemy attacks the hospital, we will The cemetery can be used to separate it from Mamayev Kurgan!"