USSR 1941

Shulka poked his head out and looked at his jeep that had been blown to pieces, feeling a little regretful.

In fact, he has always been aware of this problem. A jeep is actually not suitable for his own car... If it is the US military, there is no problem. Any company commander, battalion commander or even a platoon leader of them has a jeep.

The problem is that the jeeps that the U.S. military reinforces to the Soviet army are very limited, so officers of a certain level are usually assigned to the Soviet army, so they have become the key targets of German pilots.

"Now you know what I'm worried about!" Shulka said.

"Airplanes?" said Andrianka. "The Germans moved their air force in our direction?"

Shulka nodded, this is for sure, the German army will not let the Don Army be surrounded, even if it suspends the air transportation of the 6th Army.

Things were indeed as Shulka thought. At this time, the Soviet Air Force and the German Air Force had already had a large-scale air battle. As a result, the Soviet Army lost more than 50 fighter planes and more than 20 attack planes.

This can be said to be the price of victory.

Because the previous victory was too smooth, or it can also be said that the Soviet army thought that the main force of the enemy's air force was pinned down in Stalingrad and could not move, so their strength was seriously insufficient, so they relaxed their vigilance. heavy.

"Comrade Shulka!" A communications soldier jumped into the ditch under the rain of bullets from enemy planes, and then reported out of breath: "The political commissar asked you to report to the headquarters. Pass Surovikino!"

Shulka responded, and ran back with Denisokov.

Zolotarev was still in a hurry as before, and he led the headquarters to catch up from behind so quickly.

But this should be said to be an advantage, at least he is not the kind of political commissar who shouts for soldiers to charge while he hides behind.

It didn't take long to run back along the road when I came, and I saw Trufanov and several guards lying on the side of the road and shouting into the walkie-talkie. Obviously, they were also attacked by enemy planes not long ago.

Shulka greeted Trufanov, who shook his head down the bridge.

Shulka followed that direction and found Zolotarev, whose left arm was bleeding and was being bandaged by a hygienist.

"Comrade Zolotarev!" Shulka asked, "are you seriously injured?"

"It's just a small injury!" Although Zolotarev's face was a little pale,

But with excitement in his eyes, he patted the open space beside him to signal Shulka to sit down, and said: "Your performance this time is very good, Comrade Shulka! With your suggestion, we successfully conquered Suro Vickino, but now there are new problems..."

Speaking of which, Zolotarev took out the map and spread it on the ground, saying: "We have just received information that at least one infantry division of the Don Army is moving towards us. In addition, there are several German columns from Kharkov. The trains set off one after another, and it is estimated that at least two infantry divisions and one armored division are on their way!"

At this time Trufanov came back, and he continued: "If it was before this, we might have completed the encirclement before the enemy's reinforcements arrived, but now...the main force of the enemy's air force has turned to us, and we can no longer Advance at the previous speed!"

Needless to say what problems will be faced next.

The 51st Army could be held back or blocked by waves of incoming enemies.

At that time, it may only be tens of kilometers or even a dozen kilometers, and the 51st Army will be able to join forces with the Southwest Front Army.

But these tens or tens of kilometers will stand in front of the 51st Army like a gap that will never be bridged.

"We can step up our attack in other directions!" Shulka said.

This diverts the attention of the Germans and diverts their forces.

"We have already done this!" Zolotarev replied: "The Don River Army has already attacked Stalingrad with all its strength! But the enemy used the ruins to hold on, and they even began to collect our rifles and ammunition for defense... We couldn't do it for a while. Break through their defenses!"

Although Zolotarev said it lightly, Shulka could imagine the tragedy in the direction of Stalingrad.

If the Don River Front Army was still preserving its strength before, now in order to support the 51st Army or further consume the German supplies, it will order Soviet soldiers to charge towards the German defense line one after another... In fact, the sea of ​​​​people at this time Charge is still correct.

Because the air transport of the German army in the direction of Stalingrad has basically come to a standstill.

"Basic" is said here because the German army is still taking the risk of transporting ammunition for the Sixth Army with transport planes and gliders at night, although the transport volume can only be said to be a drop in the bucket.

In this case, the consumption of German ammunition by human sea tactics has become the key to victory.

Or, the German 6th Army could not withstand such pressure and forcibly pulled the main force of the air force back from the direction of the 51st Army.

In either case, it is beneficial to the Soviet army.

However, the German Sixth Army unexpectedly pushed the Soviet army back... with bayonets and gun butts.

Paulus' strategy was to engage in close combat with the Soviets, which the Soviets were good at and the Germans avoided as much as possible.

But the situation is different now. It is obviously beneficial to the German army to choose close combat when there is a lack of ammunition, because it does not need to consume much ammunition, and it can obtain equipment and ammunition from the enemy after repelling the enemy.

Therefore, Paulus ordered the German soldiers to hide in every corner of the ruins, even pretending to be dead bodies, and then jumped up when the Soviet army rushed up. At the same time, the main force prepared to countercharge with bayonets.

Going back and forth like this, Stalingrad is like a monster, constantly devouring the lives of the soldiers who rushed to kill the troops.

The courage and sacrifice of the German Sixth Army provided the German Air Force with the opportunity to completely suppress the Soviet 51st Army.

"Our vanguard has just been attacked by the enemy and lost more than a dozen tanks!" Trufanov said with some frustration: "If this continues, it will not be a question of whether we can join forces with the Southwest Front Army, but whether we will join forces with the Southwest Front Army." The problem of being pinched by the enemy in the middle!"

Shulka had considered the situation.

But he didn't expect the Soviet Air Force to be so weak. He thought that the Soviet Air Force could at least guarantee local air supremacy within one or two days to cover the rapid penetration of the 51st Army.

Or it can also be said that this is true when the main force of the enemy's air force is not transferred or is partially transferred.

But now, the German army has piled almost all its air power in this direction in an attempt to stop or even strangle the 51st Army.

This is troublesome.