USSR 1941

Golikov and Shulka glanced at each other, and then drilled out of the basement that served as the command headquarters and raised their binoculars to observe.

In fact, it can be seen without binoculars. A dense mass of fighter planes and bombers flew to the east bank of the Volga River, and then the east bank was filled with the sound of explosions and the screams of Stukas diving.

"What's going on?" Golikov said. "They focused their bombing on the east bank!"

"And the fighter planes have increased significantly!" Shulka said with some concern.

Golikov didn't notice this, and he nodded after being told by Shulka: "They got reinforcements and changed their tactics!"

"Perhaps..." Shulka said: "They knew they couldn't block the Volga, so they stepped up the attack on the east bank!"

Sure enough, the correspondent reported in a short while: "The front army command sent a telegram that the enemy air force bombed the east coast communication lines, ports and military installations!"

Golikov frowned, then asked Shulka: "How much do you think the Germans will do to us?"

"I don't know!" Shulka replied: "If they have enough fighters..."

This is indeed a good tactic.

Although this seems much more difficult than directly blocking the Volga River... Strictly speaking, only 30 kilometers of the Volga River needs to be blocked, while the east bank is a vast continent, and there are countless lines of communication and military facilities that need to be bombed number.

However, the Germans caught the Soviets by surprise first.

Prior to this, German fighter planes and bombers always concentrated on Stalingrad, and at most they sent a few reconnaissance planes to the east of the Volga River for reconnaissance.

This is because the German army has no idea of ​​​​attacking the east bank for the time being. As long as Stalingrad is taken, the river can be ruled and the traffic arteries can be controlled. It would be a waste to invest precious air force on the east bank.

On the other hand, it was because the Soviet Air Force still had some strength on the east bank... It should be said that the few remaining fighter planes were deployed on the east bank, which made the German army dare not act rashly.

As a result, the Soviet army deployed most of its anti-aircraft firepower on the Volga River: either on the sandbar in the middle or on both banks.

But now, the German Air Force suddenly entered the hinterland of the east coast to bomb,

When the Soviet army was unprepared, there was no time to call back the anti-aircraft firepower.

Even at this time, the Soviet army was still facing an embarrassing question: Is this the German army's plan to divert the tiger away from the mountain? If the anti-aircraft firepower is turned back, will the German army block the Volga River again? !

On the other hand, although there are many land military facilities on the east coast that are easier to supply, this also means that it has many loopholes.

For example, railways and roads are fixed compared to pontoon bridges, amphibious landing ships and transportation channels on the Volga River: pontoon bridges can change their positions at any time, while railways and roads are there, and even some transportation hubs are bombed. The interruption will affect the transportation of many lines.

If they can force the supplies on the east bank to be stretched, then of course they will not have more supplies to be shipped to Stalingrad.

Soon, Shulka and Golikov realized that this was just one of the problems they faced.

"Comrade Golikov!" When Shulka and Golikov estimated the adverse effects of the new German tactics, Akimovich handed over a telegram: "This is our scout Telegram from Karachi... Germans opening new airfields in several different locations!"

"New airport?!" Golikov couldn't help being stunned, then immediately took the telegram, read it, and said to Shulka with a sad face: "It seems that we have to re-estimate the impact!"

Shulka nodded.

There is no doubt about this.

If the German army only strengthened the bombing of the east coast, then Stalingrad might still be able to barely maintain it, but now that the German army has built a new airport and there are still a few, it means a two-pronged approach, that is, while blocking the east coast, it also greatly increases the air supply of the German army. .

Shulka knew what that meant.

At this time, the snow and ice melted in the Soviet Union and mud was everywhere, which made ground transportation very difficult. In addition, the Soviet army deployed guerrillas everywhere in the enemy's rear to attack and destroy railway lines and highway lines, so that the German army's supplies could not keep up with the front lines. demand.

This is one of the reasons why Stalingrad can persist until now.

However, air supplies are not restricted by these natural conditions and guerrillas: muddy roads have no effect on aircraft. If it has any impact, it is that airport maintenance will be more difficult, and guerrillas can also not threaten aircraft unless they can attack the airport and blow up Destroy the aircraft, but this is obviously impossible.

So it is conceivable that the supply situation of the German army will improve exponentially, so the German army will have more troops and equipment invested in the Battle of Stalingrad, and the pressure on Stalingrad will increase exponentially.

Even Shulka's "cold gun" campaign can be said to have little effect... The purpose of this campaign is to consume the enemy's supplies and troops, but now the German army's supplies and troops are increasing rapidly, that is to say, it can play a role It was turned into intangible.

"These bastards! Where did they transfer so many planes!" Golikov couldn't help but cursed.

"Maybe from the direction of the Caucasus!" Akimovich replied: "Information from the Caucasus, the number of German planes is much less!"

Golikov replied without thinking: "Then they should step up their offensive efforts and hit the enemy hard in the direction of the Caucasus to win an early victory!"

Golikov has a point in his words.

Because if the Caucasus direction wins, it will be a kind of solidarity with the Battle of Stalingrad. Even if the German army collapses, the Soviet army in the Caucasus direction can attack the German logistics supply line and even surround the German army.

but……

"It's a mountainous area, Comrade Golikov!" Akimovich replied: "And it's a high-altitude mountainous area. Although the German army has lost air superiority, once they take a defensive position, it will be difficult for us to attack!"

Any mountainous area is easy to defend and difficult to attack, especially high-altitude mountainous areas where supplies are difficult to transport. All the more so if the Germans had taken the commanding heights.

Therefore, it is unrealistic to hope that the Caucasus region will win first and then relieve Stalingrad.

"What about those transport planes?" Golikov asked again: "If they can use so many transport planes to deliver supplies, why didn't they do it before?"

"Those were also transport planes that originally delivered supplies to the enemies in the Caucasus!" Akimovich replied: "The Germans are likely to only provide land supplies for the Caucasus Mountain Division, and all transport planes have turned to Stalingrad!"