USSR 1941

The soldiers' claims were irrefutable.

Because the fact is the same, if the war situation cannot change the German army is doomed to fail, then the German army's ending can only choose one of being annihilated or captured.

And being captured can be divided into two situations: one is being treated preferentially and the other is being shot or thrown to Siberia.

The Russian amnesty may not be credible, but this amnesty is the best of these situations, that is, preferential treatment after being captured.

In the absence of an option worse than it, the German army could only bet on the Russians.

As a result, officers trying to persuade German soldiers were often persuaded by soldiers in turn.

As a result, more than 3,000 people surrendered in the dark that night, and several of them were organized, that is, officers and soldiers surrendered together. Before surrendering, they also killed the secret police who tried to stop them.

Although the surrender scale of more than 3,000 people is not large, and more than half of them are Italian and Romanian soldiers, such an organized surrender can already illustrate a problem... The morale of the German army has begun to shake up.

Hearing the news, the Soviet Army Command burst into joy, and Zolotarev excitedly gave Shulka a hug: "Thank you, Comrade Shulka! These suggestions of yours have saved many lives. On behalf of The soldiers and their families on the front lines thank you!"

Trufanov smiled and said: "Comrade Zolotarev, your thanks seem too late. Our 'breakout heroes' have been saving lives since they broke out with troops from the Brest Fortress. The number of people thanking him is too many to count!"

"You're right!" Zolotarev replied, perhaps because he remembered his disdain for Shulka before, and his expression inevitably showed some embarrassment.

Shulka didn't care about these things, he said solemnly: "I think we should be ready to fight!"

"Ready to fight?" Zolotarev and Trufanov cast doubtful glances at Shulka at the same time.

"Yes, ready to fight!" said Shulka.

In fact, this is a matter of course, because if this continues, the German Sixth Army will only have no morale and the whole army will fall apart.

Of course, the German army will not let the situation develop like this, so it will definitely take some actions to boost morale, and the best way to boost morale or maintain morale,

It's about attacking the enemy and making the soldiers forget about everything else by fighting.

It’s not that Zolotarev and Trufanov are ignorant of this. They knew that Shulka’s series of propaganda would force the German army to “jump over the wall”, but they thought it should be about the Soviet 62nd Army in Stalingrad. The 51st Army does not need any "ready to fight" yet.

However, they actually only know one thing and don't know the other.

At this time, Paulus was also holding an amnesty in his hand, with a sad expression on his face.

In fact, Paulus didn't need to read the content of the amnesty order at all, he could guess it even if he guessed it.

"How is the situation with the troops?" Paulus asked the adjutant.

"Very bad, General!" the adjutant replied: "It seems that everyone is considering surrender, to be precise, surrender within the validity period of the amnesty order!"

Paulus said nothing.

At this moment, he was thinking of an answer that even he himself couldn't believe: If the amnesty was true and the Russians kept their word, then it might not be a bad thing for them to surrender within the validity period.

Of course, as the commander of the 6th Army, he couldn't say this, otherwise the morale of the whole army would be lost immediately, and everyone would raise their hands to the Russians in a swarm.

After thinking for a while, Paulus said to the adjutant: "Contact Marshal Manstein!"

"Yes, General!"

Manstein was quickly connected.

This is a channel specially opened by the German army for the two armies: the Don Army is a reinforcement force, and the 6th Army is a besieged force. The connection between these two armies is very necessary and can also maintain the morale of the 6th Army to a certain extent. .

"Your Excellency the Marshal!" Paulus said, "I think you should attack Karachi immediately, we have no time to wait any longer!"

Manstein was silent for a while, then asked: "What happened, General?"

"They issued an amnesty order!" Paulus replied helplessly: "In the next six days, all those who surrender will receive preferential treatment. You know what this means, Your Excellency the Marshal!"

"But our preparations are not enough!" Manstein replied: "Our supplies and troops are all used to block the attack of the enemy's Southwest Front Army, and we have just stabilized our position!"

"Then, by the time you are ready, the Sixth Army will no longer exist!" Paulus said.

Paulus wasn't bluffing and intimidating, it should be said that the next six days will be extremely difficult for the Sixth Army.

"But even if we launch an attack, what can we change?" Manstein asked back: "I mean, it is difficult to achieve a substantial victory if we launch an attack when we are not fully prepared and have insufficient supplies. Does this matter to you? Can it help?"

"But that at least proves that you are already working hard..."

"It needs no proof, General!" Manstein interrupted Paulus: "We have been working hard, but it will take time! If we attack too soon, we may lose our last chance to rescue you! I will not Allow this to happen!"

What both of them said actually made sense.

From Paulus' point of view, Army Group Don was about to attack anyway, and because Army Group Don was attacking, he could tell the soldiers: "Our reinforcements are on their way and will soon be available." Victory rescued us!" So the soldiers were willing to wait a little longer, and the six days passed without knowing it.

As long as these six days pass, the amnesty will no longer be effective. At that time, the fate of the German army will be the same as that of not surrendering, and the morale of the army will be stabilized.

But from Manstein's point of view, although an immediate attack can indeed allow the Sixth Army to overcome the immediate crisis, launching an attack rashly before the supplies are in place is to use up a little bit of strength that has been hard-won. If it is consumed, it will be impossible to accumulate strength to launch an attack next time, that is, the opportunity to rescue the 6th Army will be lost forever.

Therefore, Manstein's idea was that Paulus would find a way to get through this crisis by himself, while the Don Army's attack would be slowed down.

In fact, this kind of thinking is the most sensible and has long-term strategic significance, but Paulus, who was besieged in Stalingrad, no longer has this patience and reason.