Introducing a friend's book: "The Strongest Mercenary on the Surface" by Feng Sanwu
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Shulka later learned more information about the overall battle situation from Katukov... One characteristic of troops, especially Soviet operations, is that each combat unit does not know much overall information.
For example, now, they only need to know that they are counterattacking, and their specific task is to follow the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade as a reserve force, and then the combat time, assembly location, etc. are pretty much the same.
Other information, the superiors think that as a soldier, you don't need to know too much.
The German army... To be precise, the German army at this time was completely different. Their regimental commanders and even lower-level officers basically knew what the entire combat plan and even the strategic goals were. This made them more aware of what they were doing on the battlefield and why they were doing this. When an emergency occurs, they know very well what can be abandoned and what must be defended. Sometimes they can adapt to the situation and launch a surprise attack in a better way to coordinate with the main force to achieve strategic goals.
This can be said to be a quality, a quality other than combat ability.
Shulka was originally one of the people who "doesn't need to know too much", but Katukov didn't think so. After the meeting, he mentioned Gavrilov, Lieutenant Colonel Zahakavich and Shulka A few people stayed.
"We are actually dividing the counterattack into three parts!" Katukov pointed to the map and said: "To the north is the Kalinin Front. They have 5 group armies and 1 cavalry corps, attacking on the Rzhev and Vyazma lines. To the south are nine group armies and two cavalry corps of the Western Front. We are affiliated with the Northwest Front and have a total of three group armies!"
As soon as he heard this, Shulka realized that the mission of the Northwestern Front was likely to be a rapid insertion...The Kalinin Front and the Western Front always had 5 or 9 armies, while the Northwestern Front only had 3 armies.
Sure enough, Katukov went on to say: "Our mission is to break through Klin, capture Tver within three days, and then continue westward along the railway line!"
As mentioned before, Tver is the intersection of railways and roads. Occupying this place before the German army retreats means blocking the German army's retreat. In other words, if they want to escape, they can only abandon their cars, tanks, and artillery. The heavy equipment escaped.
"The Germans' Blitzkrieg?" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov asked.
"Yes!" Katukov replied: "You can say that!"
This is indeed somewhat similar to "blitzkrieg", in which rapid troops are used to penetrate and raid the enemy's rear transportation thoroughfares or strategic locations.
The issue is……
"Then we shouldn't use the Matilda tank!" Shulka said: "And the Valentine!"
At this time, the Soviet army was learning the tactics of the German army, but obviously they did not learn it well... In order to implement the "Blitzkrieg", the Germans even sacrificed the firepower and defense of the tanks to ensure the speed and safety of the tanks.
But now, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade is going to use "Matilda" and "Valentin" tanks to carry out a "blitzkrieg"?!
"So!" Katukov replied: "We are just a reserve force... The 2nd Guards Tank Brigade will go into battle at the front. If we cannot break through and the attack is blocked, it is time for us to play our role!"
This arrangement seems to make sense, because in this way there is no problem even if the speed is not fast, and the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has experience in attacking and occupying Tver...
"I want to know what our ultimate goal is!" Shulka asked.
"Cooperate with the Western Front to encircle and destroy the enemy's Army Group Center!" Katukov replied.
This strategic goal shocked Shulka. It was obviously unrealistic. Although the Germans were at the end of their game, the Soviet Union was not much worse. If they just opened a buffer zone for Moscow and established a new line of defense, there would still be
Possibly...encircling and annihilating the German Army Group Center is simply impossible.
What Shulka didn't know was that knowing all the strategic goals of the Supreme Command would make him even more speechless.
The strategic goal of the Kalinin Front is quite realistic. Their goal is to advance north, that is, toward Leningrad, trying to encircle the German troops north of Moscow and also to relieve the siege of Leningrad.
The nine armies of the Western Front are divided into two parts:
One part consists of 5 armies plus a cavalry corps, which together with the Northwestern Front (Shurka's unit) encircled the German Army Group Center.
The other part is composed of 4 armies plus a cavalry corps. They coordinate with the Black Sea Fleet and the shallow water fleet to attack Kaluga and Bryansk, and then establish contact with Kiev.
The idea is very good, because in this way, from north to south, the Soviet army can form a complete and solid defense line from Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev to Odessa.
If this line of defense can be formed, then the German army will be divided into several pieces and surrounded, and then the situation of the German army surrounding the Soviet army in large numbers at the beginning of the war will be repeated.
The Supreme Command wanted to take revenge and drive the Germans out completely. In other words, they hoped to take advantage of this moment, when the temperature dropped and the Germans were not well prepared, to kill the Germans with one blow.
But Shulka knew this was impossible.
"I think we should be more cautious, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka said: "The Germans still have considerable strength!"
"Yes, Comrade Katukov!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "Although we have the upper hand in strength with reinforcements, I don't think we can achieve a comprehensive victory!"
Katukov didn't speak, he just looked at a few people silently.
Then everyone else understood that this was not his decision.
Shulka was unable to change this, so he turned his attention to Holm, southwest of Tver.
This unknown town will soon become the focus of contention between the enemy and ourselves and will have a great impact on the outcome of the battle.
The reason is that Holm is surrounded by a swamp, and Holm is a road node through the swamp.
These swamps are frozen at low temperatures in winter and can be passed through without any obstacles. Under the overly optimistic strategic goals, the main force of the Soviet army will naturally bypass Holm to pursue the German army.
However, Holm was never captured by the Soviet army.
Therefore, when the war continued into the spring of the next year, when the ice and snow melted and the swamps turned into swamps again, a large number of the main Soviet troops were surrounded by the German troops because they could not return.
This can be said to be a learning process for the Soviet army with little combat experience.
However, it is always the officers and soldiers fighting on the front line who suffer losses in this process, and among them may be the Northwest Front Army who performs interleaved missions, and of course Shulka.