USSR 1941

Shulka ultimately failed to convince them.

This is not only because Shulka cannot tell the future situation, or it can be said that he does not know how to lie after telling it, but also because Khrushchev hopes that this battle will be a complete and exciting battle of encirclement and annihilation... he He is a tough man who will do whatever it takes to get the best benefit.

Therefore, if there is a choice between conservative and radical, Khrushchev will undoubtedly choose radical.

"Don't worry, Comrade Shulka!" Khrushchev comforted Shulka: "Although we did not use tanks as the main offensive force in the end, your suggestion also gave a lot of help. We will let the tank troops hurry up and follow up." To completely defeat the enemy's line of defense!"

"Of course, Comrade Khrushchev!" Shulka replied.

Of course, he has no right to oppose Khrushchev's decision. Even Khrushchev did not choose to use cavalry but to use mechanized troops as the main attack, which is already a step backward.

Unfortunately, Shulka's 82nd Infantry Regiment was also a mechanized unit at this time, so of course it was one of the main offensive units.

"I'm going back to Army Group Headquarters tonight, and I'm waiting for your good news!" Khrushchev patted Shulka on the shoulder. He seemed to have noticed Shulka's rank at this time, and then raised his eyebrows , said: "You should change it!"

As a result, Shulka got two brand-new military uniforms and the rank of major... Normally, he should be promoted to captain first, but this is just a matter of words for Khrushchev.

But this military rank doesn't feel much to Shulka, it seems to be just a decoration... In fact, it is a kind of decoration to some extent. Common in the Soviet Army.

Even Mikhailvich and Andrianka did not notice Shulka's rank of major when they noticed it.

"Oh, we'll call you a major from now on, Comrade Shulka!" said Andrianka.

"It seems to suit you very well!" said Mikhailvich. "They should have given it to you long ago!"

Another meaning of this is that Shulka has long been a major or even higher rank in their hearts.

This was just a small episode, and the next day Shulka received an order to prepare for battle.

The call was from Brigadier Gerasilov.

"Ready to fight,

Comrade Shulka! "Grasilov said sarcastically: "I think you should know more than me!" "

"I don't know much, Comrade Gerasilov!"

Gerasilov just replied: "Wait for the order!" and hung up the phone.

This made Shulka feel a little nervous, because he was not sure whether Gerasilov thought that Shulka "knew better" and did not tell him the mission plan.

But after thinking about it, Shulka thought that this should be a normal process: for the sake of confidentiality, tasks and orders were issued only at the last moment.

Therefore, Shulka only needs to follow the order to make the troops ready for battle.

Troops are actually on standby all the time, except for the new barracks.

If there is any preparation to be made, it is that the headquarters spent some time sorting out the documents and burning the waste paper... Correspondents or staff officers will use some manuscript paper when recording or analyzing certain information, and these manuscript paper do not need to be archived. If it is discarded at will, it is likely to be used by enemy spies, so each time the position is transferred, either take it away or burn it on the spot.

Originally, Shulka thought that the attack would take two or three days, because judging from other troops, they were not ready, and some troops did not even have cars... It is a big problem that the mechanized troops that are the main force of the attack do not have cars.

The reason is very simple, without cars means that some people must walk, so an army will be divided into several parts abruptly, resulting in greatly reduced combat effectiveness.

But Shulka received a battle order that night.

At one o'clock in the morning, Andrianka patted Shulka, who was soundly asleep, to wake up, and said: "The order is here, the attack time is seven o'clock in the morning!"

Then Andrianka delivered a telegram.

Shulka turned over and sat up from the bed, took the telegram and looked at it by the light of the flashlight. When he walked to the headquarters, he found that it was raining outside... This made Shulka frown.

Light rain inevitably produces dense fog, which, while helpful for concealment, also blinds the attacking force to the target...  

To be precise, rain and fog are more beneficial to the Romanian army.

The reason is that the Soviet army is the attacker, and they are still crossing the river to attack. The river is flat and there is nowhere to hide. Even if there is rain and fog, they can be spotted from a long distance, although it is just a dark shadow.

Of course, the black shadow is enough, shooting and killing the target does not need to see the eyes, nose or recognize who the target is.

However, the Romanian army was hiding in the trenches, and there was basically no trace of them when the rain and fog covered them. Even if they shot, they couldn't find their location.

In other words, the Soviet offensive troops are basically in a state of blind combat, unless they can rush to the enemy.

Obviously, the Soviet army did not take the weather into consideration when formulating the combat plan, or the weather bureau gave the wrong answer... It is normal for the weather forecast to be inaccurate during this period.

Shulka was one stop ahead of the map, and Andrianka introduced according to the telegram: "Five hours later, we marched covertly to the No. 11 location of the Don River, and launched the river crossing operation on time at seven o'clock. The goal of our brigade is the Jingu Tower!"

Jinguta is a small town north of Prodovitoye, the main city of attack. It does make sense to use an independent brigade to attack this town, because there are Jinguta Station and 74km Station near it, a railway and highway transportation hub.

As long as it is taken here, it can cut off the connection between Stalingrad and the Romanian army, and at the same time cover the flank of the main attacking force.

"The main goal of our regiment is the 74-kilometer station!" Andrianka said: "The mission of the 115th regiment is the Jingguta station!"

"The 115th regiment has grabbed the main attack task!" Mikhailvich said.

This is undoubted, because Jingguta Station is a big station, and several railways need to transfer there, and the 74-kilometer station is just a passing station, and controlling it can only control part of the route.

"No problem!" Shulka said. "It's ideal!"

The Soviet army has a tradition of grabbing tasks, that is, it is an honor to grab the main attack task.

This is normal, because the troops are marching and fighting, and if they are used on the blade, they will be considered good steel, and at the same time, they will have more credit for the main attack direction.

Shulka guessed that this might be the idea of ​​the brigade commander Gerasilov... The march was commanded by him, and he would not be biased towards the 82nd regiment like the political commissar.

But this is exactly what Shulka wanted, and he is not willing to take any credit.